Scientific Evidence of the Existence of God
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Science and Religion today appear to be battling each other, each trying to prove one's own existence as the truth, and the other's as a lie. We need to understand the fact that science and religion do not contradict each other. On the contrary, they match perfectly. The name 'Science' is given to our study of the "way" God runs the universe.
Human Embryonic Development: The human embryonic development is mentioned in the Quran in great detail, much of which was discovered by scientists only recently. God says in the Qur'an :
"We created man from an extract of clay. Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed. Then We made the drop into an alaqah (leech, suspended thing, and blood clot), then We made the alaqah into a mudghah (chewed substance)…" (Qur'an 23:12-14)
First, I'd like to clarify that the Arabic word used for "We" in the Holy Qur'an is a word used for respect in the Arabic language when addressing oneself. It has nothing to do with plurality. Now, lets examine this verse: The Arabic word alaqah has three meanings: (1) leech, (2) suspended thing, and (3) blood clot.
When we compare a leech to an embryo, we find that the embryo looks exactly like a leech at the alaqah stage. Also, the embryo at this stage obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother, similar to the leech, which feeds on the blood of others.
The second meaning of the word alaqah is "suspended thing." When we look at a picture of a womb, we can very clearly see that the embryo is suspended in the womb during the alaqah stage.
The third meaning of the word alaqah is "blood clot." We find that the external appearance of the embryo and its sacs during the alaqah stage is exactly like a blood clot. This is because of the presence of relatively large amounts of blood present in the embryo during this stage. Also during this stage, the blood in the embryo does not circulate until the end of the third week. Thus, the embryo at this stage is like a clot of blood.
So we see that the three meanings of the word alaqah match the exact description given to us in the Qur'an.
Next, Qur'an talks about the mudghah stage. The Arabic word mudghah means "chewed substance." We find that an embryo at the mudghah stage looks exactly like a chewed substance. This is because of the somites at the back of the embryo which resemble teethmarks in a chewed substance.
Scientists have recently discovered this using advanced equipment and powerful microscopes which did not exist at that time when Islam was revealed. Among one of the world's most prominent scientists in the fields of anatomy and embryology is Professor Emeritus Keith L. Moore. He was Associate Dean of Basic Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine and for 8 years was the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy in the University of Toronto. In 1984, he received the J.C.B. Grant Award from the Canadian Association of Anatomists. In 1981, during the Seventh Medical Conference in Dammam, Professor Moore said: "It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Quran about human development. It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, because almost all of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God."
The Origin of the Universe: Modern cosmology, observational and theoretical sciences today tell us that the whole universe was once nothing but a cloud of ‘smoke.’ This is an undisputed principle of standard modern cosmology. Using modern technology, new stars can now be seen forming out of the remnants of that ‘smoke.’ God says in the Qur'an :
"Then He turned to the heaven when it was smoke..." (Qur'an 41:11)
The Arabic word used for smoke here is dukhaan. Dukhaan indeed is made up of diffused gases to which solid substances are attached, and this is the exact description of the smoke from which the universe emerged even before the stars were formed. It is the best descriptive word that can ever be used for this smoke.
Connected entitiy: Science and Islam tell us that the earth and the heavens above (the sun, the moon, stars, planets, galaxies, etc.) have been formed from 'smoke' and so, science tells us that the earth and the heavens were one connected entity. Then out of this homogeneous ‘smoke,’ they formed and separated from each other. God says in the Qur'an :
"Have not those who disbelieved known that the heavens and the earth were one connected entity, then We separated them?..." (Qur'an 21:30)
Dr. Alfred Kroner is one of the world’s renowned geologists. He is the Professor of Geology and the Chairman of the Department of Geology at the Institute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. He said: "Thinking where Muhammad came from . . . I think it is almost impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years, with very complicated and advanced technological methods, that this is the case." He also said: "Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics fourteen hundred years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind, for instance, that the earth and the heavens had the same origin."
Mountains:
As Pegs:
Modern earth sciences have proven that mountains have deep roots under their surface. A book named 'Earth' is a basic reference textbook in many universities around the world. Professor Emeritus Frank Press is one of its authors. He was the Science Advisor to former US President Jimmy Carter, and for 12 years was the President of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC. His book says that mountains have underlying roots. These roots are deeply embedded in the ground, and so mountains have a shape like a peg. That is exactly how the Quran describes mountains. God says in the Quran:
"Have We not made the earth as a wide expance, and the mountains as pegs?" (Qur'an 78:6-7)
For Stability:
The modern theory of plate tectonics tells us that mountains work as stabilizers for the earth. This knowledge about the role of mountains as stabilizers for the earth has just begun to be understood in the framework of plate tectonics since the 1960’s.Since the crust is thin, it has a high possibility of shaking. Mountains act like stakes that hold the earth's crust and give it stability. God tells us in the Qur'an :
"And We have set on the earth Mountains standingfirm, Lest it should shake with them." (Qur'an 21:31)
Firm Foundation: The surface of the earth is broken into many rigid plates that are about 100 km in thickness. These plates float on a partially molten region called aesthenosphere. Mountain formations occur at the boundary of the plates. The earth's crust is 5 km thick below oceans, about 35 km thick below flat continental surfaces and almost 80 km thick below great mountain ranges. Thus, mountains stand on a firm foundation. The Qur'an also speaks about the strong mountain foundations in the following verse:
"And the mountains Hath He firmly fixed." (Qur'an 79:32)
Dr. T. V. N. Persaud is Professor of Anatomy, Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health, and Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. There, he was the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy for 16 years. He is well-known in his field. He is the author or editor of 22 textbooks and has published over 181 scientific papers. In 1991, he received the most distinguished award presented in the field of anatomy in Canada, the J.C.B. Grant Award from the Canadian Association of Anatomists. When he was asked about the scientific miracles in the Quran which he has researched, he stated the following:
"The way it was explained to me is that Muhammad was a very ordinary man. He could not read, didn’t know [how] to write. In fact, he was an illiterate. And we’re talking about twelve [actually about fourteen] hundred years ago. You have someone illiterate making profound pronouncements and statements and that are amazingly accurate about scientific nature. And I personally can’t see how this could be a mere chance. There are too many accuracies and, like Dr. Moore, I have no difficulty in my mind that this is a divine inspiration or revelation which led him to these statements."
Professor Persaud has included some Quranic verses and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) in some of his books. He has also presented these verses and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad at several conferences.
Rivers and Seas: Examine the following verse of the Qur'an :
"He has set free the two seas meeting together. There is a barrier between them. They do not transgress." (Qur'an 55:19-20)
Notice how the Qur'an says "meeting together" and at the same time says "barrier between them." Early commentators of the Qur'an were unable to explain these two opposite meanings. They meet and mix, and at the same time, there is a barrier between them. Modern Science has now discovered that in the places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier between them. This barrier divides the two seas so that each sea has its own temperature, salinity and density. There is a slanted unseen water barrier between the two seas through which water from one sea passes to the other. In this way, they meet but there still exists a barrier between them, proving the verse of the Qur'an 100% correct.
When the Lord tells us about the divider between fresh and salt water, He mentions the existence of "a forbidding partition" with the barrier. God says in the Quran:
"He is the one who has set free the two kinds of water, one sweet and palatable, and the other salty and bitter. And He has made between them a barrier and a forbidding partition." (Quran 25:53)
Now, why did God mention the partition when speaking about the divider between fresh and salt water, but did not mention it when speaking about the divider between the two seas? Here's why:
Modern science has discovered that in estuaries, where sweet and salt water meet, the situation is different from what is found in places where two seas meet! It has been discovered that what distinguishes fresh water from salt water in estuaries is a "pycnocline zone with a marked density discontinuity separating the two layers." This partition (zone of separation) has a different salinity from the fresh water and from the salt water!
Science discovered this information only recently, using advanced equipment to measure temperature, salinity, density, oxygen dissolubility, etc. Is it possible for someone, living in a desert to have known this 1400 years ago?
Depths of the Ocean: Examine the following verse of the Qur'an:
"Or (the Unbelievers' state) Is like the depths of darkness In a vast deep ocean, Overwhelmed with billow, Topped by billow, Topped by (dark) clouds: Depths of darkness, one Above another: if a man Stretches out his hand, He can hardly see it... "(Qur'an 24:40)
Prof. Durga Rao
is an expert in the field of Marine Geology. He said that scientists have only now been able to confirm, with the help of modern equipment that there is darkness in the depths of the ocean. There are two reasons for this darkness :
1. A light ray is composed of seven colours. These seven colours are Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red. Refraction occurs when this light ray hits water. The upper 10 to 15 metres of water absorbs the red colour. Therefore if a diver is 25 metres under water and gets wounded, he would not be able to see the red colour of his blood, because the red colour does not reach this depth. Similarly orange rays are absorbed at 30 to 50 metres, yellow at 50 to 100 metres, green at 100 to 200 metres, and finally, blue beyond 200 metres and violet and indigo above 200 metres. Due to successive disappearance of colour, one layer after another, the ocean progressively becomes darker, i.e. darkness takes place in layers of light. Below a depth of 1000 meters there is complete darkness!
2. The sun's rays are absorbed by clouds, which in turn scatter light rays thus causing a layer of darkness under the clouds. This is the first layer of darkness. When light rays reach the surface of the ocean they are reflected by the wave surface giving it a shiny appearance. Therefore it is the waves which reflect light and cause darkness. The un-reflected light penetrates into the depths of the ocean. Therefore the ocean has two parts. The surface characterized by light and warmth and the depth characterized by darkness. The surface is further separated from the deep part of the ocean by waves. The internal waves cover the deep waters of seas and oceans because the deep waters have a higher density than the waters above them. The darkness begins below the internal waves. Even the fish in the depths of the ocean cannot see; their only source of light is from their own bodies.
The Qur'an rightly mentions: "Darkness in a vast deep ocean overwhelmed with waves, topped by waves". In other words, above these waves there are more types of waves, i.e. those found on the surface of the ocean. The Qur'anic verse continues, "topped by (dark) clouds; depths of darkness, one above another."
Prof. Durga Rao concluded by saying, "1400 years ago a normal human being could not explain this phenomenon in so much detail. Thus the information must have come from a supernatural source."
Every Living Thing is Made out of Water:
God says in the Qur'an;
"...We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?" (Qur'an 21:30)
"And Allah has created Every animal from water." (Qur'an 24:45)
"It is He Who has Created man from water: Then has He established Relationships of lineage And marriage: for thy Lord Has power (over all things)." (Qur'an 25:54)
After much advancement in Science, we know the fact that cytoplasm, the basic substance of the cell, is made up of 80% water! Modern research has also revealed that most organisms consist of 50% to 90% water and that every living entity requires water for its existence.
Is it possible that a human being 14 centuries ago could have guessed that every living being was made of water? Furthermore, would such a guess be conceivable by a human being in a DESERT, where water was always very scarce?
Formation of Clouds: Science today tells us that rain clouds are formed and shaped according to some kind of a system and certain steps connected with certain types of wind and clouds. Meteorologists have studied how cumulonimbus clouds are formed and how they produce rain, hail, and lightning. They have found that cumulonimbus clouds go through the following steps to produce rain:
1) The clouds are pushed by the wind: Cumulonimbus clouds begin to form when wind pushes some small pieces of clouds to an area where these clouds converge.
2) Joining: Then the small clouds join together to form a larger cloud.
3) Stacking: When the small clouds join together, updrafts within the larger cloud increase. The updrafts near the center of the cloud are stronger than those near the edges.These updrafts cause the cloud body to grow vertically, so the cloud is stacked up. This vertical growth causes the cloud body to stretch into cooler regions of the atmosphere, where drops of water and hail formulate and begin to grow larger and larger. When these drops of water and hail become too heavy for the updrafts to support them, they begin to fall from the cloud as rain, hail, etc.
God has said in the Quran:"Have you not seen how God makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a stack, and then you see the rain come out of it...." (Qur'an 24:43)
This process has only recently been discovered by meteorologists. The next verse, after mentioning clouds and rain, speaks about hail and lightning:
"....And He sends down hail from mountains (clouds) in the sky, and He strikes with it whomever He wills, and turns it from whomever He wills. The vivid flash of its lightning nearly blinds the sight." (Qur'an 24:43)
Meteorologists have found that these clouds, that shower hail, reach a height of 25,000 to 30,000 ft (4.7 to 5.7 miles), just like mountains, as the Quran said, "...And He sends down hail from mountains (clouds) in the sky..."
This verse also raises a question. Why does the verse say "its lightning" in a reference to the hail? This indicates that hail has got something to do with producing lightning. Lets see what the book entitled Meteorology Today says about this. It says that a cloud becomes electrified as hail falls through a region in the cloud of supercooled droplets and ice crystals. As liquid droplets collide with a hailstone, they freeze on contact and release latent heat! When the hailstone comes in contact with an ice crystal, an important phenomenon occurs: electrons flow from the colder object toward the warmer object. Hence, the hailstone becomes negatively charged! The same effect occurs when supercooled droplets come in contact with a hailstone and tiny splinters of positively charged ice break off. These lighter positively charged particles are then carried to the upper part of the cloud by updrafts. The hail, left with a negative charge, falls towards the bottom of the cloud, thus the lower part of the cloud becomes negatively charged. These negative charges are then discharged as lightning. To conclude, hail is the major factor in producing lightning! Again, it is not possible for a normal human being to have known this 14 centuries ago.
Iron was Sent Down from Space: Iron is one of the elements highlighted in the Quran. In the chapter known Al-Hadeed, meaning Iron, we are informed:
"And We also sent down iron in which there lies great force and which has many uses for mankind…" (Qur'an 57:25)
The Arabic word used here for 'sent down' is "anzalna". This word has only been used in the Qur'an when talking about things that were literally sent down, like rain. So, we see that God here is telling us that He literally sent down iron and it did not formulate on Earth, exactly as modern astronomical findings have disclosed that the iron found in our world has come from giant stars in outer space! Not only the iron on earth, but also the iron in the entire Solar System, comes from outer space, since the temperature in the Sun is not adequate for the formation of iron. These discoveries were made at the end of the 20th century and this knowledge was in no way around in the 14th century. Furthermore about the uses of Iron, the well-known microbiologist Michael Denton emphasizes its importance in his book, Nature’s Destiny :
"Without the iron atom, there would be no carbon-based life in the cosmos; no supernovae, no heating of the primitive earth, no atmosphere or hydrosphere. There would be no protective magnetic field, no Van Allen radiation belts, no ozone layer, no metal to make hemoglobin [in human blood], no metal to tame the reactivity of oxygen, and no oxidative metabolism.
This account clearly indicates the importance of the iron atom. The fact that particular attention is drawn to iron in the Quran also emphasizes the importance of the element. Moreover, iron oxide particles were used in a cancer treatment in recent months and positive developments were observed. In the treatment of such a widespread disease, the use of the expression "iron in which there lies great force and which has many uses for mankind" (Quran, 57:25) in the Quran is particularly noteworthy. Indeed, in that verse, the Quran may be indicating the benefits of iron even for human health.
The Expanding Universe: In 1929, Edwin Hubble, a well known American astronomer, made the discovery that the universe is expanding. By observing redshifts in the light wavelengths emitted by galaxies, he found that galaxies were not fixed in their position, instead, they were actually moving away from us with speeds proportional to their distance from earth. The explanation for this observation was that the universe was expanding. Hubble’s discovery is regarded as one of the greatest discovery in astronomy. Yet, astonishingly, before telescopes were even invented, Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) used to recite a verse of the Quran to his companions that stated that the universe is expanding.
"And the heaven We created with might, and indeed We are (its) Expander." (Qur'an 51:47)
At the time of the revelation of the Quran, the word "space" was not known, and people used the word "heaven" to refer to what lies above the Earth. In the above verse, the word "heaven" is referring to space and the known universe. And again, it is impossible for Muhammad (p.b.u.h) to have known this himself.
The Victory of the Romans and the Lowest Point on Earth: The Byzantine and Persian Empires were the two most powerful empires in the early 7th century. In the years 613 - 614 C.E the two Empires went to war, and the Byzantines suffered a strong defeat by the Persians. It is stated in The Holy Quran that the Byzantines had met with a great defeat but would soon gain victory:
"The Romans have been defeated in the lowest land, but after their defeat they will soon be victorious. Within three to nine years. The decision of the matter, before and after, is with God." (Qur'an 30:2-4)
Now, the Byzantine Empire had been so severily defeated that it seemed impossible for the Empire to even maintain its existence, let alone gain victory again. The Avars, Slavs and Lombards also posed serious threats to the Byzantine Empire’s sovereignty. About 7 years after the revelation of these verses, a battle was fought between The Byzantine Empire and the Persian Empire inthe area around the Dead Sea, and the Byzantine army surprisingly defeated the Persians! So, the prophecy of the Holy Qur'an came true even though it was highly unlikely to happen.
Another fact that the Qur'an mentions in these verses is the geographical fact that nobody would have been able to discover at that time. The Qur'an says that the Romans were defeated "in the lowest land". The places where the main battles took place lie in a vast area of low-lying land called the Great Rift Valley. A very interesting fact that has been discovered recently, with the help of satellite images, is that the area around the Dead Sea (located in the Great Rift Valley) has the lowest altitude on Earth. In fact, the lowest point on Earth is the shoreline of the Dead Sea, with an altitude of around 400 meters below sea level. No land point on earth has a lower altitude than the shoreline of the Dead Sea. This knowlegde did not exist at the time of the revelation of the Qur'an. A true miracle!
The Divine Propotion: The video that I've uploaded in this hub is a must-see! It is related to the Divine Propotion and is an amazing miracle!
The Seven Layers of Earth: The Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) is reported to have said:
"Whoever usurps even one span of land of somebody, its depth through the seven earths will be collared to his neck." (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, ‘Book of Oppression.’)
"Whoever takes a piece of land of others unjustly, he will sink down the seven earths on the Day of Resurrection." (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, ‘Book of Oppression.’)
Studies in geology have proven that the earth is composed of seven zones, identified from the inner to the outer layers as follows:The Solid Inner Core of Earth; The Liquid Outer core; The "D" Layer; Lower Mantle; Middle Mantle (Transition region); Upper Mantle; and Lithosphere.
So the accuracy of Muhammad's (p.b.u.h) sayings is proven to be true by science.
Cerebrum: A disbeliever once forbade prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) from praying at the Kaabah. This is what God said about him in the Holy Qur'an:
"No! If he does not stop, We will take him by the naseyah (front of the head), a lying, sinful naseyah (front of the head)!" (Qur'an 96:15-16)
Why did God mention the front of the head of that person in relation with being sinful? Why didn't He just say that that person was sinful? If the front of the head of a person is examined, we find the prefrontal area of the cerebrum. This is what the book Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology tells us about this area : "The motivation and the foresight to plan and initiate movements occur in the anterior portion of the frontal lobes, the prefrontal area. This is a region of association cortex..." The book also says, "In relation to its involvement in motivation, the prefrontal area is also thought to be the functional center for aggression...." So, we find that this part of the cerebrum is responsible for planning, motivating, and causing good and sinful behavior and is responsible when a person lies or tells the truth. Thus, it is right to describe the front of the head as lying and sinful when someone lies or commits a sin, as the Qur'an says, "...A lying, sinful naseyah (front of the head)!"
The Honeybee: God says in the Qur'an:
"Your Lord revealed to the bees: "Build dwellings in the mountains and the trees, and also in the structures which men erect. Then eat from every kind of fruit and travel the paths of your Lord, which have been made easy for you to follow." From inside them comes a drink of varying colours, containing healing for mankind. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who reflect. (Qur'an, 16:68-69)
In this verse, the verbs "build", "eat" and "travel" have been used in the feminine form. Through this, the Qur'an tells us that the honey bees that work are the females honeybees. Male bees do not work. This is a fact that science now has been able to tell us.
Secondly, the Qur'an tells us about the healing power of the honey. The regenerative property of honey is confirmed by medical authorities. In addition to its rich vitamin content, among its components are also such minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus as well as such metals as copper, iodine, iron, zinc, and hormones. Honey facilitates the functioning of the brain. It contributes to the production of blood, to its cleansing and proper circulation. Honey provides for the requirement necessary for proper functioning of our physiology and also it is used externally in cosmetics and dermatology.
Honey is used in healing wounds:
- When used in treatment of wounds, thanks to its ability to absorb moisture from the air, honey facilitates healing process and prevents scarring. This is because honey stimulates the growth of epithelial cells that form the new skin cover over a healed wound. In this way, even in case of large wounds, honey may eliminate the need for tissue transplantation.
- Honey stimulates the regrowth of tissue involved in the healing process. It stimulates the formation of new blood capillaries and the growth of fibroblasts that replace the connective tissue of the deeper layer of the skin and produce the collagen fibres that give strength to the repair.
- Honey has an anti-inflammatory action, which reduces the swelling around a wound. This improves circulation and thus hastens the healing process. It also reduces pain.
- Honey does not stick to the underlying wound tissues, so there is no tearing away of newly formed tissue, and no pain, when dressings are changed.
- Thanks to its aforementioned antimicrobial property, honey provides a protective barrier to prevent wounds becoming infected. It also rapidly clears any existing infection from wounds. It is fully effective, even with antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Unlike antiseptics and antibiotics, there is no impairment of the healing process through adverse effects on wound tissues.
The 7 Layers of the Atmosphere: God says in the Qur'an:
"It is He Who created everything on the earth for you and then directed His attention up to heaven and arranged it into seven regular heavens. He has knowledge of all things." (Qur'an, 2:29)
"[He] revealed, in every heaven, its own mandate." (Qur'an 41:12)
"Do you not see how He created seven heavens in layers?" (Qur'an, 71:15)
The word heaven is used to refer to what lies above the Earth, in this case, the sky. In this verse God is telling us that He made the Earth's sky in 7 layers. Today science tells us that the world's atmosphere consists of 7 layers that lie on top of each other. Their names are Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere, Ionosphere, and Magnetosphere. The Qur'an also says "[He] revealed, in every heaven, its own mandate," Allah is stating here that He assigned each heaven its own duty. Truly each one of these layers has vital duties for the benefit of human kind and all other living things on the Earth. Each layer has a particular function, ranging from forming rain to preventing harmful rays, from reflecting radio waves to averting the harmful effects of meteors. The sky, being described in layers in the most perfect definition of our sky.
The Protected Roof: In the Qur'an, God calls our attention to a very important attribute of the sky:
"We made the sky a preserved and protected roof yet still they turn away from Our Signs. (Qur'an, 21:32)
This attribute of the sky has been proved by scientific research. The atmosphere surrounding the Earth serves crucial functions for the continuity of life. It destroys many meteors as they approach the Earth, and prevents them from falling to Earth and harming living things. The atmosphere filters the light rays coming from space that are harmful to living things. The most striking feature of the atmosphere is that it lets only harmless and useful rays-visible light, near ultraviolet light and radio waves pass through. All of this radiation is vital for life. Near ultraviolet rays, which are only partially let in by the atmosphere, are very important for the photosynthesis of plants and for the survival of all living beings. The majority of the intense ultraviolet rays emitted from the Sun are filtered out by the ozone layer of the atmosphere. Only a limited and essential part of the ultraviolet spectrum reaches the Earth. There are several more protective functions that the sky performs but I think what I have mentioned above, is enough to prove the point. Do you think 1400 years ago a normal man could somehow have known the fact the the sky actually protects us in any way?
The Sex of the Child: "He has created both sexes, male and female from a drop of semen which has been ejected." (Qur'an, 53:45-46)
"Was he not a drop of ejaculated sperm, then a blood-clot which He created and shaped, making from it both sexes, male and female?" (Qur'an, 75:37-39)
Until recently, it was believed that a baby's sex was determined by the mother's cells. Or at least, it was thought that the sex was determined by the male and female cells together. But, the Qur'an tells us otherwise. It is stated that masculinity or femininity is created out of "a drop of sperm which has been ejected." Biology today has confirmed this fact that the sex of the baby is determined by the male, not the female. Again, impossible for anyone to guess 14 centuries ago.
Three Stages of the Baby in the Womb: The Qur'an tells us that man is created through a three-stage process in the mother's womb:
"... He creates you stage by stage in your mothers' wombs in threefold darkness. That is Allah, your Lord. Sovereignty is His. There is no god but Him. So what has made you deviate?" (Qur'an, 39:6)
The expression "fee thulumatin thalathin," translated into English as "a threefold darkness," indicates three dark regions involved during the development of the embryo. These are: the darkness of the abdomen, the darkness of the womb, the darkness of the placenta. As we have seen, modern biology has revealed that the embryological development of the baby takes place in the same manner as told in the verse, in three dark regions. What's more, embryology shows that these regions consist of three layers each. The lateral abdominal wall comprises three layers: the external oblique, the internal oblique, and transverses abdominis muscles. Similarly, the wall of the womb also consists of three layers: the epimetrium, the myometrium and the endometrium. Similarly, the placenta surrounding the embryo also consists of three layers: the amnion (the internal membrane around the fetus), the chorion (the middle amnion layer) and the decidua (outer amnion layer.) It is also pointed out in this verse that a human being is created in the mother's womb in three distinct stages.
Indeed, modern biology has also revealed that the baby's embryological development takes place in three distinct regions in the mother's womb.
Dr. E. Marshall Johnson is Professor Emeritus of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. There, for 22 years he was Professor of Anatomy, the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy, and the Director of the Daniel Baugh Institute. He was also the President of the Teratology Society. He has authored more than 200 publications. In 1981, during the Seventh Medical Conference in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Professor Johnson said in the presentation of his research paper:
"Summary: The Quran describes not only the development of external form, but emphasizes also the internal stages, the stages inside the embryo, of its creation and development, emphasizing major events recognized by contemporary science." He also said: "As a scientist, I can only deal with things which I can specifically see. I can understand embryology and developmental biology. I can understand the words that are translated to me from the Quran. As I gave the example before, if I were to transpose myself into that era, knowing what I knew today and describing things, I could not describe the things which were described. I see no evidence for the fact to refute the concept that this individual, Muhammad, had to be developing this information from some place. So I see nothing here in conflict with the concept that Divine intervention was involved in what he was able to write."
The Menstrual Period: The menstrual period is when the unfertilised egg is expelled from the body. Since fertilisation has not taken place, the walls of the previously readied womb contract and the egg is expelled with the breaking of tiny blood vessels. Following that, the body will then begin preparations to repeat the whole process all over again.
"God knows what every female bears and every shrinking of the womb and every swelling. Everything has its measure with Him." (Qur'an, 13:8)
At the beginning of the menstrual period, the mucous on the walls of the womb (the endometrium layer) is 0.5 mm thick. Under the effect of hormones secreted by the egg, this layer grows and reaches a thickness of 5-6 mm. This layer is then discarded in the absence of fertilisation. As we see from the above verse, this monthly increase and reduction in the walls of the womb is told to us in the Qur'an.
Professor Tejatat Tejasen is the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy at Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Previously, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the same university. During the Eighth Saudi Medical Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Professor Tejasen stood up and said:
"During the last three years, I became interested in the Quran . . . . From my study and what I have learned from this conference, I believe that everything that has been recorded in the Quran fourteen hundred years ago must be the truth, that can be proved by the scientific means. Since the Prophet Muhammad could neither read nor write, Muhammad must be a messenger who relayed this truth, which was revealed to him as an enlightenment by the one who is eligible [as the] Creator. This Creator must be God. Therefore, I think this is the time to say La ilaha illa Allah, there is no god to worship except Allah (God), Muhammadur rasoolu Allah, Muhammad is Messenger (Prophet) of Allah (God). Lastly, I must congratulate for the excellent and highly successful arrangement for this conference . . . . I have gained not only from the scientific point of view and religious point of view but also the great chance of meeting many well-known scientists and making many new friends among the participants. The most precious thing of all that I have gained by coming to this place is La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah, and to have become a Muslim."
The scientific miracles do not end here. There is too much to be told but I could not put all that information in one single hub.
Conclusion: God sent down different prophets and Books at different times to remind people of His Message. The line of Prophets begins with Adam and ends with Muhammad (p.b.u.t). The previous Books (The Torah, Bible etc.) got altered by man. At last, God Himself took the responsibility of gaurding His final Book i.e the Quran. God says in the Qur'an: "Verily, We Ourselves have sent down this Reminder, and most surely We will be its Guardian." (Qur'an 15:10)
This itself tells us the authenticity of the Quran, since history tells us that the Quran is preserved in its original form until today (and will continue to, of coarse). Again, this is not just a religious belief, this is what history tells us. Not even a single word from the original script has been changed. Imagine a book claiming to have God as its protector and surviving 1400 years without a change of a single word! History tells us (and the Bible's own theologists admit it) that Bible got altered by man. Would God have left it at that? With an altered Book as a guide for billions of people to come? Of coarse not, a final Reminder had to come and did come and will stay unaltered till the end of times since God took the responsibility of gaurding it Himself. I end this hub with this verse of the Qur'an:
"We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and inside their selves, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient as regards your Lord that He is a witness over all things? (The Noble Quran, 41:53)"
I never said that the reason for scienctific research is to prove the existence of God. As you said, science is a business of studying what already exists. And if you believe in God, then you know that what already exists has been created by God. And if you find a Book from 1400 years back explaining scienttifically what already exists, things that are now being discovered, well then you have to believe it. I think you didn't read the whole hub.
I did read your hub. I'm just commenting on the fact that science has nothing to do with religion or God, as many theists and atheists erroneously "seem" to think it does. This is just a field of "pseudo-science" created by both of these parties. It doesn't apply to science and the scientific method in any way, which only studies that which exists.
So to say that there is any "scientific evidence for God", implies that God can be, and actually HAS been tested by science. We both know this is not true, cause it hasn't. Hence there is no "scientific" evidence for god, and there never was, or we would be able to study it.
But there is nothing wrong with saying that you have created your own "pseudo-science" system outside mainstream "science"; and by using "your" method, you have evidence for "such and such" and can prove "such and such" within your defined "context". There is no problem or issue with that because there are many such branches disconnected from mainstream science that do this very thing, and it doesn't confilict with what "science" is.
But to assert that mainstream "science" has evidence for any god, is simply not true. You can only say it's true within your own defined system of context. I'm not trying to attack you in any way, but just trying to make this issue clear, that's all.
Oh, so basically you disagree with the title of my hub. Thats ok. You say that science is "studying" that which already exists. But you can use established scientific facts to prove the authenticity of that whose existence hasn't yet been proved too. If that's not the job of mainstream science, thats ok. Scientific research is still involved, whether it is mainstream science or a branch of science does not really matter. I'm glad the issue is cleared up.
Hello,
Another great Hub! I am most impressed with your research and your Hub. It is sensational. I was thinking about this very topic not too long ago. You choose your topics well =D. I agree with you Nia. Whether one relates science to God or not, It is clearly evident that science is used to prove the existence of God.
Thank you for the appreciation, Animosity Reborn.
Science will never prove the existence of God, Nia L. We're not that great, and neither were the prophets of any religion. Science compliments what God has given them through divine inspiration. Also, Muhammad had a vast amount of established knowledge at his disposal. Six hundred years of Christianity, Genesis and the rest of the Hebrew scriptures, all there to extrapolate. It doesn't really matter who said what, when and where. What matters is that you become a righteous human being with integrity and equanimity; happy with your faith in God; harmless to everyone and everything.
You have produced a well written and informative article which shows, once again, that much was known about science even before the existence of science. But it does rather sound like you have deviated from your first article about three great religions being one and the same? The human being is too insignificant to prove the existence of God. Faith, and the evidence of his creating (scrutinised by science) is all that we have until we die.
hey this topic looks familiar: ) and to fatfist yes there is a "science" to everything.. today we are talking about God in relation to science as todays world knows it.. nicely said Nia at least we agree on some things ; )
EnglishM,
Notice how I said 'scientific evidence' not 'scientific proof'. The difference is that 'evidnce' means when something becomes "evident" through certain means. Evident means obvious. So, through studying science, it has become 'evident' that there is a God, since Muhammad (p.b.u.h) could not have possibly had all this information by himself. Scientists agree to this because they know how hard they have worked to gain this knowlege and that too, by using advanced technology which was not present at the time. You said that Muhammad (p.b.u.h) had knowledge through the previous scriptures, well, he was illiterate and could not read so he had no way of knowing what the previous scriptures said. Also, if the previous scriptures do mention all these facts, then I would really like you to give me the references of where we can find all this information in them.
And I have not deviated from my previous article because I believe that God sent down all those previous messengers (Abraham, Moses, Jesus, etc.) for the betterment of humans and as 'role models' for humans. I believe in all of them. It is part of a Muslim's faith to love and respect all previous prophets. The only reason I 'follow' one religion and not all of them is because the Qur'an is the latest edition of God's Books and is unaltered and since the previous ones were mishandled, God says in the Qur'an that we have to follow the latest one.
Courtney, yes I'm glad we agree on something. lol.
(It is clearly evident that science is used to prove the existence of God.)
AnimosityReborn, please do tell HOW science is used to prove the existence of god. You need to do some reading on what science ‘is’ and ‘does’.
(and to fatfist yes there is a "science" to everything)
CourtneyBrewer, there is a science ‘only’ to things which ‘can’ be ‘studied’. That’s why there is no science to god. Any attempt to do that and claim it as science, is just nonsense and gibberish! That’s why no reputable theologist will go this route; because they would be ‘deceiving’ their people with such unethical claims. That’s why they have ‘faith’.
(Notice how I said 'scientific evidence' not 'scientific proof'.)
Nia, with no disrespect intended; you really don’t understand what “science” is or does. Science is the study of existence – nothing else. Science does not prove anything. Why? Because science works by the null hypothesis and the falsifiable theory. Read up on this. There is no proof in science, never was, and never will be. The reason for this is so that scientific theories can always be upgraded when new discoveries come forward. Science is not a bible that is set in stone forever and ever amen. If anybody can find just one conflicting or erroneous fact about a scientific theory, then that that theory is automatically scrapped and a new updated one is formed. That’s why science has nothing to do with god – only you are making up these claims because you don’t understand what science is.
(Evident means obvious.)
‘evidence’ does not mean anything obvious. Evidence is a collected data point or a testimony. The bible is evidence. The Koran is evidence. UFO sightings are evidence. An object found in a cave is evidence. Lies in court are evidence. But NONE of these things are ‘evident’ or ‘obvious’ of some claim. Why? Because it first needs to be proven that they have a ‘direct’ correlation or consequence with the claim in question.
(I believe that God sent down all those previous messengers)
Yes Nia, you have BELIEF. You don’t have any TRUTH about your claims. Truth is systemically proven to be true within the context of a domain. Without proof, there is no truth. Truth and proof are only possible in realms ‘outside’ of science; like in logic for example. Science only deals with scientific theories. You cannot come up with a theory for god because god cannot be shown to exist and be tested. Hence, your theory cannot be validated and it would immediately fail. This is why you will have to use another method to ‘convince’ or ‘show’ people the truth of your statements. You can try to ‘prove’ your claims using logic, but you may want to consider that nobody to this date has been able to prove god. Good luck.
Muhammad could speak and hear, Nia L. And if he couldn't read and write, who wrote the Qu'ran? It must have been dictation. Also, I wouldn't say that the Qu'ran hasn't been mishandled or misinterpreted because it has. If a prophet speaks of nothing but righteousness then that's good enough for me. I don't care who said what first, and I don't care about following any religious belief. My relationship with God is private, just as Jesus recommended. We do agree, as indicated in our previous discussions, that science does compliment the ancient scriptures. Genesis was enough to convince me, so I have arrived at where I want to be, a good person who believes in God, Amen. Whatever or whoever gets you there doesn't matter. What matters is that you end up with God in your heart and a clear and clean conscience. Wouldn't you agree?
EnglishM,
Muhammad (p.b.u.h) dictated the Quran to his companions and they would write it down. After they wrote down each verse, they would read it out loud for Muhammad (p.b.u.h) to confirm. This process would carry on until the verse was written down in the exact way as it was revealed. About the Quran being mishandled, well, two copies of the copied text of the original Quran authenticated by the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) are present to this day, one at the museum in Tashkent in erstwhile Soviet Union and the other at the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, Turkey. So, even if someone tries to change it, the original text can be checked for confirmation. So, it can not be altered.
Belief in God is of coarse the number one necessity but another thing is also necessary: to believe in all His Books and all His messengers. Genesis was enough to convince you but that does not mean you reject all other Books without really studying them. Ending up with God with a clean conscience is definitely very important, but as I said, another thing matters: believing in everything that has been revealed by Him. Imagine, if the Quran really is the word of God (I say "if" for you. I, of coarse have no doubt), wouldn't it be a shame to reject it when we have a golden chance to study what God has tried to convey to us? Remaining indifferent when we have a Book from the Creator?
Nia L
I shall resist the temptation to reply to all of the above. You're digging a hole that you won't be able to climb out of, and I don't want to see you do that. We should agree to disagree about certain things and leave it at that. I am an ardent critic of the three main religions, which all find that the truth hurts. I judge a tree by its fruits.
I assume you know a certain truth that all the followers of these religions do not know. That is interesting. I would love to know.
Nia L, now you're talking nonsense. What gives you the authority to speak for all the followers of three religions? How many deaths have been caused by Judaism? How many deaths have been caused by Christianity? How many deaths have been caused by Islam? A certain truth that all the followers of these religions don't know? Are you serious? I'll say it again, I judge a tree by it's fruits. The hole's getting bigger.
Oh, so now I know why you dont follow any religion. But let me ask you this one simple question. You jugde a tree by its fruits. Right? Would you judge a car by its driver? Or would you read the manual and judge it by that?
If the followers are causing harm that does not mean that that is what they are told in the scriptures. God will see to those who are causing harm in His name. And the verses which tell us that we are supposed to fight are those where we face extreme circumstances like war. Where saving your life becomes obligatory. For defense where there is no other option.
I don't subscribe to a religious belief, Nia L. End of story. A religous belief is responsible for the murder of thousands, and in some cases millions of innocent men, women and children. Not by defence, because the innocent weren't being attacked, but by brutal, barbaric slaughter. Christianity is undoubtably top of the list on that score. Jesus said that a good tree produces good fruit and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A car and a driver is an insulting comparison, and you're right, it was a simple question. I didn't say anything at all about anyone being told to do harm in the scriptures, so you're replying to comments that haven't even been made; you're putting words into someone else's mouth? Everyone understands what defence means, so now you're being patronising. I'm bored with this now, it's getting ridiculous.
fatfist, yes God can be shown to be real and through means of scientific explanation.. which i guess what your saying is that you dont necesarily believe anything.. you don't believe in gravity, you don't believe in oxygen your just free floating thorugh this no sense life you seem to have without any concrete surety of anything in it.... ok... i believe in faith more than science anyway, science is what we have been taught in society though, not spirit.... so understaning things scientifically helps people understand them better, for the sake of spiritual truth, but for thoe who believe no proof is needed and forthose who dont believe no proof is enough, and maybe for you because nothing in life has proof or really exist ... this isjust one big dream... and maybe even that doesn't exist or maybe it does and maybe its scientific too
fatfist , nothing in the beginning was any more "study worthy" than God, you can "study" anything, science is a method for analyzing every component of a certain issue to understand its legitimacy, and it can be done on any subject! science is not its own subject , its a method of studying things , so if we can use this method to help open peoples eyes- ya know people usedto not believe in "germs" until it came up under a microsope... so you would be a fanatic in the 1800's claiming "germs" have nothing to do with science.. do you get it ! if it can be discussed through scientific terms that is a way of making critics UNDERSTAND better these spiritual things that seem ot be o hard for them to grasp!
EnglishM,
A car and a driver is not an inappropriate example because when a driver does not have an understanding of driving a car, he will without a doubt smash it, thus causing harm. The 'practice' can not be judged by the 'practitioner'. People who do not have an understanding of religion, cause harm in the name of it. You say christianity is undoubtedly on the top of the list on that score and in the next sentence you say Jesus said that a good tree produces good fruit. So, you believe that Jesus was a good person. Now, people are killing in his name. Is it Jesus's fault? No. It is the people's fault. If some people misinterpret the word of God, does that excuse us from following it the way it is supposed to be followed?
But everyone is entitled to their own opinion and if you want to ignore the Books of God because 'some' people do not understand them, then it is your choice. We shall agree to disagree here, as you said.
Courtney,
Your nonsensical posts with ad-hominems, non-sequitors, and strawmen, are very amusing if not comical. Sometimes I have a hard time coming to terms with the fact that there are still people like you in the 21st Century. You are American, aren't you?
EnglishM, I am sorry but you are judging a religion by the tree of some of its fruits, not all. I do not believe that you are being very fair. There unfortunately is good and bad in every religion. The bad are the extremist who kill out of hatred for the nonbeliever of their religion. First of all that is an arrogant belief. While we all may not agree on what we believe we have to remember there are two sides to everything. Before you ask I am Christian. Which I understand killed unjustly during the Crusades, just as there have been muslims extremist who have killed unjustly. Once again I rest my case in the fact that just because there are some extremist in every religion does not portray the belief of the people as a whole.
Well said smarleygrl7.
smarleygrl7. I thought Christians lived in accordance with the teachings of Jesus. Jesus is the one who said that a good tree produces good fruit and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 'Judging a religion by the tree of some of its fruits' makes no sense. The religion is the tree, and what it produces is the fruit. You say that Christians killed unjustly during the crusades? That's not even 1%. Instead of trying to write, you should try reading. Start with the words of Jesus (particularly the Sermon on the mount) and then, for Christian atrocities, try a history of Britain and Ireland, and the countries of Africa present day. Most Christians I've encountered know nothing about Jesus except what they've learned in their school nativety.
Christians do live in the accordance of the teachings of Jesus. Thank you I do read and the crusades were one example of people killing in the NAME of Christianity, did not know I was here to give a smart man as yourself a lesson. Just as Islam will claim that terrorist do not portray the true belief of Islam, I could say like wise for my religion. What happens to the bad fruit the tree makes, is it not cut off? Not everyone claiming to be Christian is and so therefore I do not believe they are the fruit of the tree. Lamens terms, I do not believe that they are Christians even though they claim to be so therefore they could not be the good fruit of Jesus. Since you choose no religion why are you so bent on disproving them all? You have made up your mind so what does it matter to you? Or have you? Whether you except my belief I have peace and believe and I pray that you find that peace also. Thanks for the healthy debate.
Although christians think that they live in accordance with the teachings of Jesus, they don't. A Christian can't live in accordance with the sayings or the teachings of Jesus. I'll help you out with this one. The sermon on the mount is all of Matthew, chapters 6 and 7.
If you live in accordance with everything Jesus says in these two chapters then you are not a christian. If you don't live in accordance with everything Jesus says in these two chapters then, yes, you probably are a christian. Don't forget this crucial point, christianity is man-made not Jesus made. My work is a clear indication that you would be hard pressed to give me a lesson.
Let me help you that would be Matthew chapters 5-7. As a Christian we understand that because we are weak, and struggle against human nature we will fail and not be able to live up to the reputation that Jesus had. That is why God sent His son to save us. The sermon on the mount was a profound sermon from Jesus in that He was calling out the Pharisees who liked to be seen for their good works, instead of wanting God to be seen. It is a biblical guideline which we as cannot live up to. We by human nature are a selfish, self involved people, but when Jesus resides in us He can do wonderful things through us. The religion of Christianity is man made, but God is not. And my belief of Him is not. http://hubpages.com/hub/Why-do-you-believe-what-yo
You see, that's your problem. You spend too much time writing nonsense and not enough time reading. It's Matthew, chapters 6 and 7 in my Greek Scriptures. You're right about christians, they are weak and they do struggle against human nature and fail to live up to the reputation of Jesus. I understand Jesus better than anyone, and if you did some reading you would know that. But you're a christian, and christians are lazy and self opinionated. You haven't even bothered to read that comments are not for promoting hubs. This dialogue is over. I'm not interested in your senseless replies.
Wow must be hard to be bored with everyone since you know everything? I am sorry that opposition makes you angry and thank you in my bible it is 5-7. How is it you understand Jesus so much more than others what makes you so magnificent? I am not lazy and I believe you are also giving your opinion just as I am, guess that makes you self opinionated also? I was not promoting my hub but giving you something to read to explain why it is I believe what I believe. God bless you and I will be praying for you and your journey.
How is it I understand Jesus, Duhhh! How many clues about reading do you need? Even your bible's wrong (5-7)? You won't be praying for me, hypocrite.
How can it be possible that any passage of supposed "sage" advice in these chapters was not known to humanity before these writings? The Greeks and Egyptians had built cities, governments, universities, science, medicine and functioning societies without this sermon.
Check out Iron Chariots Wiki for an analysis of The Sermon on the Mount.
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Many Christians consider it to be one of the greatest messages ever delivered, some even going so far as to considering it proof of the divinity of Jesus.
The sermon is portrayed in the book of Matthew, chapters 5 through 7, though it parallels the Sermon on the Plain presented in Luke 6:17-49 as well as some passages from Mark. Scholars are uncertain about the precise origin of the sermon but the parallels between the synoptic gospels as well as non-canonical texts like the Gospel of Thomas have lead many to conclude that the shared material may have come from the hypothetical Q document.
The sermon begins with the beatitudes (a series of claims that many conditions which are discomforting in this life will be rewarded in the life to come), gives insight into Jesus' views on Jewish law and the Ten Commandments, gives instructions on prayer (including what is commonly known as the Lord's Prayer) and general instructions on how to live. These instructions are viewed by many Christians as a manual for living life as a "true Christian" — by following the specific instructions of Jesus.
While some of the passages in this sermon have been considered sage advice by readers of varying beliefs, the sermon includes many passages which contradict the claim that the author was wise beyond mortal men. Many people have pointed out that rather than being the ultimate instructions for how to live life, the sermon contains several passages that would typically qualify as bad advice and projects some philosophical positions that are typical of the era and not indicative of a wise, transcendent being.
As a whole, the Sermon on the Mount is, to put it bluntly, a bad sermon. Beyond giving some bad advice, it doesn't have any underlying theme. It is a hodgepodge of bottled wisdom. No section leads into another section, and often the advice within the sections are contradictory (Matthew 5:16 vs. 6:1 , Matthew 6:7 vs. 6:8-13 , Matthew 7:20 vs. 7:21-23 ). Some sections switch justification for the advice midstream: Matthew 6:25-26 suggest you don't need to worry about food because God even looks after the lesser animals, then later in Matthew 6:31-33 the suggestion is that God knows what you need and if you believe you will have them "added unto you". On the whole, the "sermon" is roughly as coherent as just reading all the aphorisms of Poor Richard's Almanac.
According to the two-source hypothesis the Sermon on the Mount is taken from the Q document, and primarily consists of bits taken from an unrelated non-gospel source. If this is the best Christianity can do, it seems rather ironic that it is likely borrowed from a different source.
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Thanks Nia L - it is a fascinating read. Much I have heard and read before but a long time ago. Good research and it makes people put their thinking hats on and throws a cat amongst the pigeons too. Equally fascinating has been the commented discussion. As you are are aware I do not follow any religion but I do believe in a higher power, God if you like. I met her once and she was black ;-)
EnglishM, I have tried to be encouraging to you by explaining what I believe, but only a fool argues with an idiot. You claim to be a very educated man however that does not prove that you are truly knowledgable. I will be praying for you whether you choose to believe that or not. You claim you know Jesus better than anyone however the true essence of Jesus is found through relationship not just reading. The true teachings of Jesus were never condescending and since we are to be Christ LIKE I do not believe your behavior reflects a true understanding of Christ. Arrogance maybe.
Hypocrite- somebody who claims to have admirable principles, or beliefs but behaves otherwise.
Nia L, thank you and appreciate the opportunity to debate on your hub!
smarleygri7. You're obviously not going to figure this out by yourself, so I'll just have to tell you: READ MY HUBS! Starting with, 'At Last The Truth'.
hey Nia - nice Hub. Didnt bother to read all the comments as the arguments all seem so repetitive and I'm heard them all before. Religion always gets blamed for the actions of some humans, etc etc.
Anyway, thank you for the informed Hub and I hope we can all keep better informed and be able to discuss issue without pride or prejudice. ;-)
Thank you for the appreciation LostKitty :)
Very interesting. The quotes are a bit like horoscopes or Nostradamus quatrains - a bit vague and open to interpretation but you did a good job tying them to modern discoveries.
As for proving that they came from God, its a bit like pyramidology. There are a dozen or more scientific measurements built into the pyramid - the diameter of the earth, distance to the sun, length of the year and many more, so accurate to 8 decimal places! Where did the builders get this information? God only knows.
For me, I have proof of the existence of God as well, in the bible. God proves his existence through prophecy and says so. One third of the bible is prophecy and over 1500 of them have been fulfilled. The few that are left are in the process of being fulfilled as I write.
So does this prove the existence of God? It doesn't need science, only history. Well I don't believe in coincidences and if you do the math the odds of these prophecies all coming to pass are truly astronomical.
So we are both using math, not science to prove the existence of God.
So now comes the big question - Are we talking about the same God and if not then who wins?
That's a tough question. Islam claims their God is the God of Abraham, the God of the Jews and Christians except for one important difference - Muslims do not believe in the divinity of Jesus. That is a fatal mistake according to Jesus himself.
Jesus gave a revelation of prophecy 50 years after he ascended to his throne in heaven and much of it has already come true. To me this proves that Jesus is God and the rest of his revelation will soon come to pass.
As excited as you must be to find proof in your God, I believe the information he provided to Mohammed pales in comparison with the knowledge of what will soon happen here on earth.
I'm not trying to change your religion but if you are impressed with information God has provided to his prophets then you ought to study the books of Daniel, Ezekiel and Revelation. You will be amazed! Really!!
Jimbo G,
We ARE talking about the same God. You said and I quote "Jesus gave a revelation of prophecy 50 years after he ascended to his throne in heaven and much of it has already come true. To me this proves that Jesus is God"
So, the prophecies in the bible which came true is basically why you believe in it. Well, we as Muslims, believe in Jesus and the fact that God revealed a Gospel to him. So, the prophecies that came true are not a threat to our religion because we already believe in them. That however does not mean that God did not reveal another Book and another messenger. If you are fascinated by prophecies then you should know that there are at least 160 known and confirmed prophecies of Prophet Muhammad which were fulfilled. Some of them are:
(1) Preceding the Battle of Badr, the first and decisive confrontation with pagan Meccans in the second year of migration from Mecca in 623 CE, Prophet Muhammad foretold the precise spot every pagan Meccan soldier would fall. Those who witnessed the battle saw the prophecy come true with their own eyes.
(2) Prophet Muhammad prophesized the Battle of the Confederates (al-Ahzab) would be the last invasion the tribe of Quraish (the pagan Meccans) would launch against the Muslims. It was fought in the fifth year of migration, 626 CE and was the last military conflict between the two sides. All Meccans embraced Islam after a few years.
3) The Prophet informed his daughter, Fatima, that she would be the first member of his family to die after him. There are two prophecies in one: Fatima will outlive her father; Fatima will be the first member of his household to die after him. Both were fulfilled.
4) Prophet Muhammad prophesized Jerusalem would be conquered after his death. The prophecy was fulfilled when, according to Encyclopedia Britannica: “In 638 the Muslim Caliph, Umar I, entered Jerusalem.”
(5) The Prophet Muhammad prophesized the conquest of Persia. It was conquered by Umar’s commander, Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas. In the words of Encyclopedia Britannica:
“…raids into Sasanian territory were quickly taken up by Muhammad’s Caliphs, or deputies, at Medina - Abu Bakr and Umar ibn al-Khattab… an Arab victory at Al-Qadisiyyah in 636/637 was followed by the sack of the Sasanian winter capital at Ctesiphon on the Tigris. The Battle of Nahavand in 642 completed the Sasanids’ vanquishment.”
(6) The Prophet Muhammad prophesized the conquest of Egypt. In the words of Encyclopedia Britannica:
“Amr… undertook the invasion in 639 with a small army of some 4,000 men (later reinforced). With what seems astonishing speed the Byzantine forces were routed and had withdrawn from Egypt by 642… Various explanations have been given for the speed with which the conquest was achieved.”
(7) The Prophet foretold the first maritime battle to be undertaken by Muslims would be witnessed by Umm Haram, the first woman to participate in a naval expedition. He also prophesied the first assault on Constantinople.
The first maritime battle in Muslim history was in 28 AH in the rule of Mu’awiya. It was witnessed by Umm Haram as foretold by Prophet Muhammad, and Yazid ibn Mu’awiya led the first attack on Constantinople in 52 AH.
(8) Prophet Muhammad prophesized an imposter claiming to speak in the name of God would be killed at the hands of a righteous man in Muhammad’s lifetime. Al-Aswad al-Ansi, an imposter prophet in Yemen, was killed in the Prophet’s lifetime by Fayruz al-Daylami.
Does that mean that Muhammad (p.b.u.h) is God? Of coarse not! He was a prophet of God just like David, Noah, Abraham etc. Similarly, Jesus was a prophet sent down for the betterment of the people and to convey God's message to the people.
Nia L, I have found your hub to be very interesting and the quality of work to be well done. Not sure I can agree with all your points but I do respect them and will honestly state that I will pounder them further. Also I will state as a compliment, that you are the first person to give me cause to read the Qur'an and examine it for myself, for better understanding.
Thanks
Nia…It seems a lot like your stack of unstable self-promoted personal bias beliefs of so called scientific facts may tumble any moment…what ever will the world bear next???
Rob-Jr,
Thanks for the appreciation. And yes, I would suggest that you read the Quran and also the life of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) and his message. Most people believe what they hear instead of doing their own research. I admire you for willing to at least try to understand Islam.
pylos26
If they are "self-promoted personal bias beliefs" then why did these scientists testify to the truth of them?
Well Nia, One of the most beautiful hubs i have come through. Nice arguements between you, EnglishM, smarleygrl7, and Fatfist. God surely blesses who practises Monotheism. And we should be monotheist. And Rob showing his interest in Reading Quran, May Allah be pleased with you and Nia. Allah is Omnipresent and omnipotent, but still no one did see him. Science will never admit any evidence of God, coz they fail there only !! Science can give theory but cant explain it to the core. Like Darwin, he told that humans were derived by Apes, but he could not explain why the rest of Apes couldn't become human. The same with dead sea, Evolution and so on. Well can any scientist/ science prove that Egg had evolved first or the Hen ?? If its hen, then how could it develop an egg without a Rooster, and if its egg, then who laid the egg ??
Thanks alot Buraq. The scientific facts in the Quran have always fascinated me and I wanted to share them with others. And yes, God can not be seen or proved, but to me, these facts provide "evidence" of his existence and of the Quran as the Word of a God.
lots of activity going here... welcome to HP Nia... :D
Thanks GeneralHowitzer!
They both (science/religion) have the same root - our need to understand the mysterious/unknown. Spirituality (the Understanding) & Science (the Application) - hand in hand. I use the word spirituality as religion brings to bare the mysteries through the application of words/terms. For many this causes confusion/distraction. The Reality is, in a way, the space between the words. Thank you for the stimulation, Nia L.
Thanks for your comment dyonder. You're right. Both try to fulfil our basic need of curosity or inderstanding. Every human being at one point in life atleast, wonders where he came from. Both science and religion answer the "whats, whens, wheres, hows etc." But if you believe in God, then you will know that He is the Creator and listening to the Creator expalin His creation and answer these questions is more fulfilling for a human being than mere science because not only does it satisfy your curosity, it also brings mental peace of mind.
Good Hub Nia.I hope you have a look at some precious Muslim Books and media such as "Scientific Miracles in the Quran" to Zaghloul El-Naggar.It will certainly enlarge your knowledge of the Quran and Allah (God).
Thanks for the appreciation and the information. Hope I get hold of that book. Would love to read it.
I enjoyed this hub. I am not a Muslim, and therefore I do not place my faith in the Qur'an. However, I do agree that religion and science do not contradict each other in essence.
When the two are approached with preconceived opinions, it is possible for them to be interpreted as being opposed. However, I think that, when approached without prejudice, without intent to embrace one, so as to disprove the other,
the two can coexist. Impartiality is integral to the scientific method.
Thank you for stoping by and commenting. You are right. Science just studies what God created and so the two do not contradict each other.
Hello Nia,
It is nice to meet you.I read your hub with interest,I am a Christian,I believe In Jesus Christ who died for my sins.I know we can be friends.I appreciate your Muslim faith and that we both Love God.Your fervent testimony is a testimony to God. We all need to love God with all our beings,don't we. I look forward to learning more. Peace be with You
Hi Christine. Its nice to meet you too. I believe in Jesus Christ as well so we have that in common too :)
Hi Nia, fantastic job on the article, looks like you really went to great effort to knock this together. This is certainly an intriguing collection of coincidences (forgive me if that term is derogatory in any way, Im not sure what else to call them from an objective standpoint). What I would like to know is, what is one supposed to do with such information? Am I correct in assuming that you have sought this information in order to build a justification of your religious opinion rather than forming your opinion based on these findings?
I am not a religious person as I was not raised with any sort of religious teaching. Could you tell me, if these links really do prove that Allah exists as the one true omnipotent god, does that mean that everything written in the Qur'an in terms of moral standing etc is 100% correct?
I am not perfectly clear (excuse my lack of knowledge in this department) but am I supposed to govern my entire existence based around those teachings?
Hi adamjones13,
This hub contains a very small amount of facts that I have gathered. There is an enormous amount of knowledge in the Qur'an. If you actually study the teachings of Islam, you would realize that fact. I follow Islam because I have found out that it is the truth. Not only through science but also through history, maths, logic or in any way you look at it. So it is not justification. There is so much evidence that one wonders how one can do anything but believe in it. According to the ‘Theory of probability’ if a coin is tossed, your chance of guessing it correctly is 50% (1 out of 2). If tossed for the second time the chance of guessing it correctly both the times is 50% of 50% that means 25%. The chance of guessing it correctly for the third time also reduced to 12½%.
If a dice with six sides is tossed, your chance of guessing it correctly is 1 in 6. If tossed for the second time the chance of guessing it correctly both the times is one in (6X6) 36. The chance of guessing it correctly for the third time also reduced to 1 in 216, which means less than 0.5%. At the time when the Qur'an was revealed, people had no scientific knowledge. People thought the world was flat. It could have been thought to be triangular, quadrangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, spherical, oblong, pyramidal, etc. Lets assume that there could be 30 different shapes. Therefore, the chance of guessing it correctly is 1 in 30. To guess it correctly for the second time is 1 in 900.
The chance for a person to guess the coin, the dice and the earthly shape correctly once, is one in (2x6x30) 360, and two times in a row will be one in (4x36x900) 129,000.
One hundred balls, each one numbered, are put in a box and mixed together and you are asked to bring out ball # 1 with your eyes closed. If you bring out the balls one after another, the chance of bringing out ball # 1 is 1 in 100. However, if you are asked to bring out the balls in perfect series from one to hundred then what is the chance of you bringing them out of the box in perfect order even once? What about bringing them out correctly every time? Mathematicians say that the chance is zero.
We did not know how life started or what it is composed of. Was it oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, gold, silver, aluminum, copper etc or any of the hundreds of thousands of combination of them? Qur'an mentions how life was originated. Our scientists also say the same thing. Who could have said it correctly, in the days when Qur'an was revealed, except by the creator of life Himself?
I dont know if you believe in God or not, but if you do, then you have to believe that your entire existence does base itself on the teachings of that God.
nice ideas and I understand where you are coming from but probability is in inaccurate means of representation in this case. It has never been a guess from a range of options that the earth is round, it is an idea based on observation. If that is noted in the Qur'an, that's pretty awesome, but those who noted the same later on the timeline did not have some grand help from somewhere, they made a judgement based on their observations; therefore, it is not inconceivable that the scribes of the Qur'an or whoever is was at the time that may have noted that the world was round did the same thing.
In the case of knowing how life started and what it is composed of, I am truly baffled and impressed if those who wrote the Qur'an noted the exact chemical components that have now been proven to be the base of all life, brilliant work, and so long ago right!
If I am correct, it is said that muslim cultures were once the great pioneers of scientific advancement. Do you have so little belief in the power of the human mind as to immediately deny that the more accurate of the observations could have been the observations of intellectual beings?
Also, have you considered that the not so pinpoint likenesses could be attributed to coincidence?
I am simply trying to way up the debate here (don't take my words as an attack)
On my other question, if you are entirely sure that the Qur'an is the word of god and that he therefore exists, I am unclear as to why you phrased your last sentence the way you did. Surely if that is the whole truth, there is no choice, we should all base our existence on the teachings, because if we don't we are wrong. Is that not correct?
If I am not mistaken that then means we must all follow Allah and according to what is 'his word', we should join him in 'casting terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve' and 'strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them'? I obviously don't know you personally but you seem courteous with those here that openly disbelieve
Please consider my opinion an objective one. I am working to educate myself thoroughly on all sides of debates like these. Apologies for the long posts, hopefully I am not overcomplicating all at once.
Hi adamjones,
I'm sorry for the late reply. I was out of town.
One part of your comment almost made me laugh. Its funny and sad at the same time how some people would go to any lenghts to spread falsehoods against Islam. I'm not pointing at you on this. I'm sure you read the verses about "casting terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve" at an anti-Islamic website or something. Anti-Islamics always like to bring this up and claim that this verse proves that Islam promotes terrorism and that the Quran orders Muslims to go and chop people's heads off along with their finger tips. The fact that they make such claims shows their lack of knowledge on Islam. They should really study Islam with an open heart rather than visit anti-Islamic sites, and read anti-Islamic books and believe everything they tell them. This verse was quoted out of context to you. It is actually referring to a SPECIFIC BATTLE. This verse is not an order for the Muslims. It is talking about a battle that took place. The battle it is referring to is called the battle of Badr. This was the first battle between the Muslims and the idol-worshippers. This verse was revealed in a chapter which contains a detailed and comprehensive review of the Battle. The full verse is : "When thy Lord inspired the angels, (saying): I am with you. So make those who believe stand firm. I will throw fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Then smite the necks and smite of them each finger. " You have to read the history to understand verses like these. God is here telling the Angels to do so, which resulted in a major victory of 300 over 1000, with only 14 casualties on the Muslim side. The Muslims were only 300 in number and the disbelievers were a 1000 in number. The Muslims went out with 300 and some soldiers intending to meet a caravan of about 40 men, not intending to fight but only to overpower them. The caravan escaped, but Abu Sufyan had already sent word to Quraish to come and protect it. The Quraish marched with enormous army of 1000 men, six hundred wearing shields, 100 horses, and 700 camels, and luxurious provisions to last for several days. The disbelievers wanted to make this a victory that would put fear into the hearts of all the Arabs. They wanted to crush the Muslims once and for all and the odds were overwhelmingly in their favor. Imagine that the believers with their small army (including only 2 horses), going out with the intent of meeting a mere 40 unarmed man and instead meeting a well-prepared army of more than 3 times their size. At that time of need God sent down angels for help and assistance of the Muslims. The Quran marks this miraculous occurance: “I will help you with a thousand of the angels each behind the other (following one another) in succession.” Quran [8:9]. There is another verse of the Quran that goes "Their multitude will be put to flight, and they will show their backs."[54:45] This is in fact one of the miracles of the Quran becuase this verse was revealed in Mecca before any of these events at Badr had taken place. Omar (ra), upon hearing Muhammad (pbuh) proclaim this verse on this occasion said, “When this verse was first revealed, I asked the prophet what it means. What multitude? What deafeat? And the prophet didn’t answer me. But when I saw him recite it on that occasion, I then understood.” Indeed Allah, again, fulfilled His promise. The disbelievers, with all their might, turned their backs and ran away from the Muslims in disgrace and utter humiliation. The Muslims did not know that Allah’s help was about to descend upon them. They only knew the odds that were apparent to both sides: 100 against 300, 700 camels against 70 camels, 100 horses against 2, enourmous provisions against none, an intent and preparation for war against an unprepared group of believers. Still, despite all odds, they had trust in Allah and His Messenger. Because of their devotion Allah sent His help and victory. The verse that goes "I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved" means, `you -- angels -- support the believers, strengthen their (battle) front against their enemies, thus, implementing My command to you. I will cast fear over those who defied My command and denied My Messenger." So, this verse is talking about a specific event that happened in history in which God helped the Muslims because it was crucial for the Muslims to win in order for Islam to spread. The Qur’an was revealed piece by piece according to the scenarios Muhammad (pbuh) faced, over 23 years. Because Muhammad (pbuh) was a Moses-like prophet, instructed to conquer and establish God’s worship in the land, he had to overcome his enemies and make war the way Moses did. Even after Muhammad’s (pbuh) uncle was mutilated on the battlefield by Kafirs, the Qur’an forbade him from mutilating enemies right back. Unless you knew the context, you wouldn’t notice this prohibition, but Muslims do know the context. Islam does not forbid war, because war is a reality of life. History is ugly, but never think Islam is weakened by its recognition of war as a crucial part of life. Rather, we are the ONLY RELIGION to explicitly forbid the killing of civilians in wartime. Others either pretend war doesn’t exist or urge a holocaust against entire races. If you look at Muhammad's (pbuh) life you will not find a single event where he treated anyone unjustly, whether a Muslim or a non-Muslim.
If you're wondering about angels, there's something that you might find interesting. There is a saying of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that goes: "Angels are created from light."
Angels are actually low density creatures, and God created them originally from light. They move at any speed from zero up to the speed of light. It is the angels who carry out God's orders. The term "angel" is used for some form of light created by God that carries God's orders. The Quran says: "(Allah) Rules the cosmic affair from the heavens to the Earth. Then this affair travels to Him a distance in one day, at a measure of one thousand years of what you count." [Quran 32.5]. 1400 years ago it was stated in the Quran that angels travel in one day the same distance that the moon travels in 1000 lunar years, that is, 12000 Lunar Orbits / Earth Day. Outside the gravitational field of the sun 12000 Lunar Orbits / Earth Day turned out to be the local speed of light! Those people back then followed the lunar calendar and counted 12 lunar months each year. These months are related to the moon and not related to the sun. Hence in 1 day the angels will travel a distance of 1000 years of what they counted (the moon). Since this verse is referring to distance, then God is saying that angels travel in one day the same distance that the moon travels in 12000 lunar orbits. Outside gravitational fields this speed turned out to be the known speed of light! When we compare the nominal speed of light with 12000 Lunar Orbits / Earth Day inside the gravitational field of the sun we get 11% difference. When we compare them outside the gravitational field of the sun we get zero% difference: The distance to the sun is not a constant, so as the distance to the sun increases the difference in energy causes the length of the lunar orbit to change. When the Earth-moon system exits the solar system 12000 Lunar Orbits / Earth Day becomes equal to the speed of light. Hence, if it is defined inside the gravitational field of the sun then this definition will be wrong with time; however since it is defined in free space (outside the gravitational field of the sun) then this definition will be true for ever!
Regarding the Quran, I think you are not very clear about the history of the Quran and from where it actually came and who wrote it etc. Let me explain. Muhammad (pbuh) dictated the verses of the Quran to his companions after he would receive them from the Angel Gabriel, and the companions would write them down. After they wrote down each verse, they would read it out loud for Muhammad (pbuh) to confirm. This process would carry on until the verses were written down in the exact way as they were revealed. Muhammad (pbuh) would also tell the ex
(continued) Muhammad (pbuh) would also tell the exact position and order in which the verses had to be written down, the way it was revealed to him. Two copies of the copied text of the original Quran authenticated by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) are present to this day, one at the museum in Tashkent in erstwhile Soviet Union and the other at the Topkapi Museum in Istanbul, Turkey. History tells us that the Quran is present in the form that it was revealed, meaning not even a word has been changed. It is true that Muslim cultures were the pioneers of scientific advancement but you are looking at it the other way round. Those early Muslims did not make scientific advancements first and then write them in the Quran. They were able to make advancements in science BECAUSE of studying the Quran. They had the same Quran that we have now. But they were smarter than us. They actually went deeper into it to try to understand and study things from the Quran's point of view. And since it is the Word of God they were obviously able to make advancements in different fields such as medicine, chemistry, physics etc. etc. There is a verse of the Quran that goes "Verily, in the creation of the heaven and the earth, and in the alteration of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding-those who remember [the Guidance of] God standing, sitting and lying down on their sides, and THINK & REFLECT about the creation of the heavens and the earth…" [3:190-191]
"And it is He who spread out the earth, and set thereon mountains standing firm and (flowing) rivers: and fruit of every kind He made in pairs, two and two: He draweth the night as a veil o'er the Day. Behold, verily in these things there are Ayaat [proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.] for those who THINK & REFLECT!" [13:3]
The Quran itself says that it is a Book for those who "think" and "reflect." We see that those early Muslims indeed did that. Hence they were the pioneers of scientific knowledge.
So after looking back at history, it is Muhammad (pbuh) who we find was the actual person who came up with the Quran, if you want to talk in an objective way. So we should analyze his life to see if he really was a prophet or not or if he could possibly have come up with the Quran himself without Divine assisstance. The most important thing to remember is that he was an illiterate man living in an environment that lacked education. In spite of this, he brought a complete law that addresses every aspect of human life at all times in terms of belief, acts of worship, dealings, morals, etc. He introduced perfect systems in marriage, divorce, pregnancy, parenting, alimony, inheritance, family and neighborly relations, criminal punishment, human rights, politics, economics, social life, and etiquette of and how to conduct oneself when eating, drinking, getting dressed, traveling, sleeping, waking up, yawning, sneezing, visiting the sick, personal hygiene, etc. He did not bring all this from himself and never claimed that such knowledge was his. Apart from that, how could he have possibly known all the scientific facts that exist in the Quran? If you study his life you would see that there was no possible way for him to have made such accurate judgements based simply on observation. You say that those who noticed some of these facts later on in history did not have any grand help from somewhere. But thats not true. Because all the scientific discoveries recently made have been possible because of advanced scientific equipment that was not present at Muhmmad's (pbuh) time. For example how could Muhammad (pbuh) have "observed" that an embryo resembles a leech, and a blood clot and is susended? And that it then forms into what looks like a chewed substance? Scientists have recently discovered this using advanced equipment and powerful microscopes. How could Muhammad (pbuh) have "observed" that the entire universe originated from smoke? Or that the Earth and the heavens were once a connected entity? Or that in places where two seas meet, there exists a barrier between them? That can not be seen by the naked eye. Or that there is complete darkness at the depths of the ocean? He never went into the depth of an ocean. He was living in a desert. Or how clouds and lightening form? Or that the universe is expanding? Or about the lowest altitude point on Earth? Or about the 7 layers of the atmosphere? And that the sky plays a protective function for the Earth? Or that the sex of the child is determined by the male? Or the shrinking and expandind of the womb during menstruation? There is so much more! Do you honestly believe that such accurate knowledge could have been attained by simply "observation" without powerful microscopes or advanced technology? For a book revealed in the seventh century, to an unlettered Prophet, in an unlettered society to spell these facts out so precisely is a living testimony to both the divine nature of the book and the correct Prophethood of its recipient. Had Muhammad's aim been personal gain or glory, it would have gone against him to command his followers to perform certain acts such as having to perform ablution and prayer five times a day, washing after sexual intercourse, fasting – without even drinking water – a whole month from dawn to sunset every year (especially in Arabia, which is mainly desert with unbearable heat), let alone forbidding them from acts that are desired by the majority such as drinking, adultery, usury, gambling, etc.
Your second argument was that the less accurate facts could have been because of coincidence. That is why I gave you the theory of probability. Because how probable is it that out of all the possibilites, the Quran is right about every single scientific fact that it mentions? What are the chance of coincidence? What are the odds? You can calculate that through the theory of probability too. As I explained before, according to this theory, if a coin is tossed, your chance of guessing it correctly (out of coincidence) is 50% (1 out of 2). If tossed for the second time the chance of guessing it correctly both the times is 50% of 50% that means 25%. The chance of guessing it correctly for the third time (again out of coincidence) reduces to 12½%. If for the 3rd time your chance of making a right guess is reduced to 12½%, then imagine that the Quran mentions hundreds of facts. What is the chance of all of them being correct by coincidence? This theory says that the chance of all of them being correct by a mere coincidence is zero. I hope you get what I'm trying to say. For example I'd like to mention an amazing scientific miracle of the Quran here that I have not mentioned in my hub:
The word sea (water) is mentioned in the Quran 32 times.
The word land is mentioned in the Quran 13 times.
If we add the number of times the words "sea" and "land" are mentioned in the Quran we will get: 13 + 32 = 45
And if we take out thier percentage:
32 / 45 X 100 = 71.11111111111%
13 / 45 X 100 = 28.88888888889 %
By this simple equation, we get the final answer to this miracle, which was in the Quran for more than 14 centries:
71.11111111111 % = Percent Of Water On Earth
28.88888888889 % = Percent Of Land On Earth
And If We Add both we get 100% which is really the total percent of earth. Coincidence?
Regarding why I phrased my last question the way I did, well, what I meant was that "if" you believe in God, you would "know" that your entire existence is based on His teachings. And if you do not, your entire existence would still be based on those teachings, but you would not be aware of that fact, and therefore, yes, you would be wrong.
I hope that my reply was helpful. I dont mind debates at all. I respect your opinions and truly admire you for willing to "think and reflect" as the Quran encourages. You're already following that teaching of the Quran and I hope it will lead you towards the rest of its teachings. As Galileo once said "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect had intended for us to forgo their use."
Fine response. That's a hell of a lot of stuff to cover so I won't try and tackle it all. Firstly, you misinterpreted a comment of mine from earlier posts. My comment about others making similar discoveries without divine intervention was regarding your chosen example about the Quran stating that the world is round. This is the best example as well. Your argument was that subsequent scientific discoveries were aided by new technology and equipment. The discovery that the world is round wasn't made with any fancy equipment. I can assure you of that.
In my further readings I have discovered that my knowledge of that discovery was misguided anyway. It appears that the original discovery is not known (and no, it's very likely not from the Quran), in fact it is likely that earlier cultures such as the persians and hellinistic greece were aware. The thing about scientific study is that it is based on development over time, smaller discoveries lead to bigger ones and technology advances. Believe it or not there was a time before modern instruments when ideas were based on observation and those who made those discoveries are somehow not all assumed to be prophets.
Misconception is unavoidable it seems. It is almost impossible for someone to question the Quran or any other religious document for that matter based on the validity of ideas within them because the token response is 'you've got it all wrong'. I understand that to some extent because sure, I've not studied every aspect of every document. (it seems you have - "we are the ONLY RELIGION to explicitly forbid the killing of civilians in wartime. Others either pretend war doesn’t exist or urge a holocaust against entire races").
My confusion arises when all of those millions of people who HAVE studied those documents in depth, don't have the same ideas. Now, sure, there might be translations and such, I don't know, but if it is the word of an omnipotent god, all knowing, all seeing, in control of everything, why is it allowed to be so incredibly easily misread and why for that matter, isn't it being reiterated to a new prophet to clear it all up.
The 'scientific facts' in the Quran are riddles. I would have no debate, and there probably wouldn't be nearly as many other religions floating around if the Quran contained the exact chemical composition of the earth's atmosphere at every stage of its existence, if it stated that the universe is somewhere very close 13.8 billion years old and explained exactly how the universe evolved in line with todays findings, but it doesn't.
Instead, it implements the power of metaphor almost, and the details require your explanation. Why is that? Does the Quran explain why your god doesn't make himself present to take a Q&A on the origins of life and the different types of evolution that occurred before the darwinian model emerged and how subatomic particles function down to finest detail?
Or maybe he couldn't do that without an interpreter because he only chooses to speak in riddles that us mere mortals, with our rudimentary understanding, just couldn't get to grips with.
I am entirely understanding of your stance but your debates unfortunately do not pull me towards supporting your ideas, instead I'm lead to feel that you have perfected a method of blinding people with numbers and long winded puzzles of answers.
My problem is this. I have never been victim of religious indoctrination and therefore have made my decisions based on things i've learned. In recent years, since my mind really developed as i got older, I began to question things; things most people do not question. To this point I have discovered no suitable method for discovering what is right and wrong other than rational thought. And to put it bluntly, rational thought clashes with the teachings of ancient religions, yours or anyone else's.
That's not to say that there aren't rational ideas in them, there certainly are. However, these religions aren't to be followed in part (or at least that's what their teachings say), they are to be followed in their entirety and I refuse to do that. I will not sacrifice ration and logic to follow what could very possibly be a collection of ideas written by men in a time much different to ours.(and yes that is still a possibility, even in light of your 'compelling' evidence)
I can't get in to individual ideas, it could go on forever, but I will almost guarantee that there are teachings in your religion that you could not debate with rational ideas only. Those in support of their religious texts have to fall back on the divine paradox and that is where debates like these end, with those favouring logic continuing their pursuit of knowledge and those that want to believe continuing to fill their gaps with the divine.
If the Quran tells me to think and reflect I am doing just that to bypass it's more outdated and juvenile ideas. I am making a wholehearted attempt to live my life in the best possible way and to have a positive effect on those around me, if that means thinking and reflecting past the pages of a historical book, then I will do that. I am happier to wade into the void with fellow thinkers than to accept a collection of riddles as my answers so that I don't have to feel uncomfortable with not knowing everything. In my opinion, that's what everyone should do so that we can get past the idiocy of 'my god is better than your god and my god told me to do this and that so I'm gonna do it whether its justified or not'.
In every debate relating to religion there is always a stalemate that is reached in which logic is abandoned and explanations can go no further. The whole thing really echoes the different stances of scientific study and religion. The advocate of the former searches for new ideas and solutions, the follower of the latter clings to 'answers' so inconclusive that they can't even unite a single religion, never mind the majority of thinking people.
You have fallen in between with this debate. You have bastardised scientific findings to support your assumed conclusions. It does not matter how striking those bits of 'evidence' might be, if you were being objective, you would still be in search of more before making your concrete conclusions. For that, you need to consider doing some more thinking and reflecting.
Regarding my misinterpretation of your comment, I know you were referring to the world being round which was discovered through observation. What I was trying to say was that other facts that are mentioned in the Quran could not have possibly been discovered at that time without scientific equipment. Even if I agree with you that the world being round could have been mentioned through observation, it still does not explain all the other facts that are mentioned. And even if the original discovery was not from the Quran, that still does not explain as to why the Quran mentions it, and that too in a sure shot way, as if the Author is sure that He is right. I mean, if it was an observation then it could have been wrong, and the "author's" entire religion would have gone up in flames. The other people who made this discovery and even scientists now that make different discoveries have nothing to lose when they put forward a discovery. They are simply making observations and doing experiments. Even if they turn out wrong, which they sometimes do, a scientist has nothing to lose. Because his main aim is to "discover." On the other hand, you have Islam, which has everything to lose even if one of its teachings is proved wrong through science. And yet you see such accurate claims, by an illiterate man, who never claimed that this knowledge was his. And it could not have been possibly his. Anyone who studies his life can see that. Not even a small amount of information from the Quran has been proven wrong, a Book that made these claims 1400 years ago, and made them with such assurance.
Regarding your question that if the Quran really is from God then why is it allowed to be misread? As I explained earlier, the Quran is in the exact way as it was revealed. If I dont speak Arabic, it is my duty to actually study the Quran in depth in whatever language I speak. If I do not do that and THEN if I misinterpret it, then who's at fault? Me, or the Quran? Me of coarse. Half knowledge is no good. Verses out of context are not the document's fault, but the reader's fault. If I listen to a verse that I do not understand, it is my duty to get an indepth knowledge about it so that I could understand it. The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: ""Seeking Knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim." Because of coarse only through knowledge can one interpret the scripture in the correct way. If all teachings of Islam are followed, no one would have that problem. But if we do not follow those teachings, and then complain as to why God has allowed this and this to happen to religion, then who's fault is it? Ours or God's? Ours, and rest assured we will be answerable. That is the whole test. This life is a test for the Hereafter. God has sent several messengers to this world to remind the people of His message. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad (pbut) all were prophets. The last one that He sent has completed His message for the world. That is why God has kept the Quran preserved. Now, if we do not fulfil our responsibility of studying it, it is we who are at fault. That is where our responsibility comes in.
Regarding your statement that the scientific facts in the Quran are riddles, let me explain as to why they are explained in, shall I say, a hidden sort of a way. You need to understand the fact that the Quran was revealed 1400 years ago to people who had completely zero scientific knowledge. The Quran explains these facts in a language which not only they could understand, but generations to come would also be able to interpret, but without upseting their systems and thier way of life. Remember we are talking about a people that thought the sky was held up by pillars! A notion that is refuted in the Quran where it says "He who raised the heavens without any pillars.." God explained them His message in terms that they could understand, without upseting their system. That in itself is another amazing attribute of the Quran. Its language is concise, but amazingly precise once you understand it in depth. That is why seeking knowledge and thinking and reflecting is emphasized, because only through that could we really go towards the depth of the Scripture and unfold meanings that only our generation could understand so far. That also explains why God says in the Quran: ""We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and inside their selves, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth." I believe we are in a process where that really is becoming clear. The verses of the Quran are called "ayahs" which means "signs." So, the Quran is a Book of signs. Those who go into its depth can hope to achieve the full meaning of it.
Regarding your view that there are certain irrational ideas in my and other religions and some rational ones, but these religions are not to be followed in part, but in their entirety. And that you refuse to do. Let me tell you, the human mind can not comprehend everything that exists and what is good for them and what is not. For example if you think something is good for you, that does not mean it really is. Did it ever occur to you that there are some things beyond human comprehention? What you think is rational or irrational might not be so. A simple example is of the parents. When we are 2 year old kids, our parents tell us not to go, say, near the electricity switch. At that time, our mind can never comprehend why we shouldn't go there. Similarly, the Creator is greater than us and we need to understand the fact that there are some things on which we have to rely on Him. Again that is where the test comes in. The Quran prohibits pork. At that time, people did not know why it was being prohibited. Now, however, medical science has proved how bad it is for health. Same for alcohol. Similarly, there might be something that would seem irrational to you. You need to understand that we are not the criteria for deciding what is rational and what's not. Sure, we are asked to seek knowledge. But you admit yourself that there are things you can not find an answer to however much knowledge you seek. That is where religion answers, and we need to understand that that is where we need to trust it. If an entity can create something as complex as the human mind, that said mind should accept that that entity is much greater than it. Believe me, I have also dared to ask question that no one asks. But I have found answers.
Regarding "my god is better than yours" debate, well, Islam does not claim to have a different God than anyone else. We believe that God sent down different messengers at different times to spread His message. That is seen all through out history, if you study it. And that also explains why there are so many religions in the world, instead of just one. Jews stuck to Moses and rejected Jesus. Christians deified Jesus and rejected Muhammad (pbuh). Hence three religions, which are all from the same God. If you read other hubs I have published I have tried to explain in them how all religions are actually from one and the same God. If everyone understood that, there would be peace in the world. Again, it is people who don't follow the teachings, and then they blame God for the chaos in the world. Believe me, I have been objective and that has led me towards the truth. I have studied comparative religions and its amazing how everything proves Islam right at the end. What you are doing is, you are being objective, but you are not willing to accept answers.
Regarding the Quran having unjustifiable ideas, bring me every idea that you think is unjustifiable and inshAllah I will prove to you how it is not. If you don't want to go to that much trouble, then it is not the Quran's fault. Again, as I mentioned earlier, that is where our responsibility comes in, because we ARE expected to make that effort. That is the test.
"We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly Guard it (from corruption). [Al-Quran 15:9]
The Jews were commanded by God to preserve their holy book, the Torah. The responsibility for preserving these early divine scriptures thus fell to their followers, whereas it was God who Himself shouldered the burden of keeping the Qur'an intact: 'We have, without doubt, sent down the Message, and We will assuredly guard it.' (15:9) Earlier scriptures were books of God just as the Qur'an was. The only difference was that the bearers of those books failed in their task of preserving them, and hence they lost their original qualities. As for the Qur'an, God having taken it upon Himself to provide His special divine succour for its safeguarding, it remained in its pristine state.
The Holy Qur'an had been preserved in four different ways during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and it was not revealed at once but over a period of 23 years:
a) The Holy Prophet (PBUH) had the whole text of the Divine Messages from the beginning to the end committed to writing by the scribes of revelations.(Prophet was an Ummi,he couldnt read and write).
b) Many of the Companions learned the whole text of the Qur'an, every syllable of it, by heart.
c) All the illustrious Companions, without an exception, had memorized at least some portions of the Holy Qur'an, for the simple reason that it was obligatory for them to recite it during worship. An estimate of the number of the illustrious Companions may be obtained from the fact that one hundred and forty thousands Companions had participated in the Last Pilgrimage performed by the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
d) A considerable number of the literate Companions kept a private record of the text of the Qur'an and satisfied themselves as to the purity of their record by reading it out to the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
In the last century, an Institute of Munich University in Germany collected FORTY-TWO THOUSAND copies of the Holy Qur'an including manuscripts and printed texts produced in each period in the various parts of the World. Research work was carried out on these texts for half a century, at the end of which the researchers concluded that apart from copying mistakes, there was no discrepancy in the text of these forty-two thousand copies, even though they belonged to the period between the 1st Century Hijra to 14th Century Hijra and had been procured from all parts of the world. This Institute,unfortunately,perished in the bombing attacks on Germany during World War II, but the findings of its research project survived.
Video of Ex christian about Preservation of Quran:
Ahmed Usman,
Thank you for the added information. I hope it will help people understand the authenticity and preservation of the Holy Qur'an. I believe it is crucial for people to understand that because most people assume that since the Qur'an is 1400 years old, it is not in its original state, and thus can not be trusted. If one would only make an effort to study the history of the Qur'an, one would realize the miracle of its preservation. Once again, thank you.
The same debates arise from the majority of religious argument. When logic is thrown out of the window it all becomes a matter of 'God working in mysterious ways' and the 'test' and such. That is a cop out. You are no longer debating ABOUT the validity of the whole thing from an objective point of view, you are debating FROM the Quran. You have only verified what i said previously about these debates only going so far before logic is thrown away and nonsense has to back up religios arguments.
Of course I understand very well that the human mind cannot comprehend everything that there is. Have you ever considered that the human mind cannot comprehend the state of nonexistence? Hence creating 'eternal soul' fantasies to fill the gap. There are two sides to that coin. I am not at all against the idea that there may have to be a great adaptation in the way we think to reach certain answers but I am not willing to accept that we are incapable of figuring out what is right and wrong without the help of an omnipotent being. You can speak for yourself on that one.
I wouldn't continue to use alcohol and pork as a part of your debates. There are far too many pitfalls. If I were to ask why they were created if we are to stay away from them I am sure you will tell me that it's part of the 'test' so lets skip that. However, there are things that are far worse for you than pork and alcohol. In fact, recent studies have found that regulated amounts of certain alcoholic drinks are quite good for your health, and pork is far from being pure evil! it provides a good source of protein and contains several other valuable vitamins (Thiamin, niacin etc.). It doesn't make all that much sense that those things would be considered total no-no's when there are far more harmful substances available for consumption, both now and when the Quran was written. ON this ground, science has no proven any of those writings right, in fact it has only showed how underdeveloped they are, as it has with most things.
I am happy to take up your challenge of moral debate. However, first I will say that I am undoubtedly at risk of being told that I have misread something when i suggest an immoral idea. Or, if not, you will not debate with me on objective, rational grounds to create a supporting argument FOR your religions's teachings, you will argue FROM your religious teachings, which obviously makes no sense and defies the point of the argument.
Please, if that is all you can do, don't bother. I have no interest in wasting my time in an endless discourse of logic vs nonsense. However, if you do have a valid rational idea that supports your side of the debate I will be happy to hear it. So, based on what I have found around the internet and heard from people and texts, I have found that Islam teaches that homosexuality is wrong. If you can, I would like to hear a logical explanation to justify that. If you can't, I am not concerned with having the final say, so thanks for a stimulating debate, it's been good.
Logic does not have to be thrown out when you inpect Islam. Its teachings are logical but if you make your own mind the criteria for deciding what is logical and what is not, then that's not fair. Because as I said earlier, there are some things beyond comprehention of the human mind. They make sense if you have wider knowledge about all aspects of human life. You are right when you say that its validity has to be looked upon from an objective point of view, but a lot of knowledge is required for that.
The concept of the 'state of non-existence' has been created BY the human mind, so how can you say that the human mind can not comprehend it? If you look at history, you will never find a nation which did not have the concept of "God." As far as historic records go, there was always the concept of "God." It says in the Quran: "And verily, We have sent among every nation a Messenger." (Qur'an 16:36). History supports this verse because you will never find a nation in history that did not have the concept of God. To make it clear, I am not trying to prove anything THROUGH the Quran, because then you'll say I'm not being objective. I'm trying to prove through history (which supports the Quran), that there was always a concept of God. I talked to this athiest recently who said to me "When will you accept this FACT that the concept of God is man-made?" I said to him that fact needed evidence to back it up, so bring me a period in history when the concept of God was "formed" by man, since you say it is man-made. He failed to do so because there is none. There was always God. Two things can be proved through this:
a) The theory of there being a God is more valid since history tells that there was always a concept of God.
b) The theory of the state of non-existence is less valid since we know that this concept really IS man-made.
Regarding pork and alcohol, I dont know what studies you are talking about because not only do Muslim doctors forbid pork, but other doctors have made even further researches, and their reports also show why pork is so unhealthy. There are several diseases carried from pig to man, particularly parasite infestations. According to medical research, the fat content in pork is more than any other meat (beef, mutton etc.) and it takes longer to digest. Dr. M Jaffer has listed 16 kinds of harmful germs, which have been discovered in pork in modern researches and the diseases, which could be caused by them. The number of patients suffering from tapeworm disease is the highest in the world among pork eating nations. Other diseases attributed to pigs are caused by tri-chinelia spirates and intestinal worms occupy first place among such nations too. Dr. Glen Shepherd wrote the following on the dangers of eating pork in Washington Post (31 May 1952): "One in six people in USA and Canada have germs in their muscles - trichinosis 8 from eating pork infected with trichina worms. Many people who are infected shows no symptoms. Most of those, who do have, recover slowly. Some die; some are reduced to permanent invalids. All were careless pork caters." He continued "No one is immune from the disease and there is no cure. Neither antibiotics nor drugs or vaccines affect these tiny deadly worms. Preventing infection is the real answer." After reading the statement of Dr. Shepherd, one can realize that there is no real guarantee of safety when eating pork that one would not be affected by trichina worm. That is why modern doctors advise three prohibitions during illness: no liquor, no pork and no smoking. Which brings us to alcohol. Volumes have been written on the devastating effects of alcoholic excess on crime, suicide, divorce, general misery in the home and to the individual, venereal disease, juvenile delinquency, traffic accidents, economic and industrial losses. Alcohol can be harmful to the emotions and the mind. The habitual, even moderate, use of alcohol (not even to the point of intoxication) induces relaxation, the easing of strain (tension), of maladjustments, of excessive inhibitions, indeed euphoria, all of which is considered beneficial, as you said. But it also leads to diminished efficiency, especially in accuracy, impaired judgment, increased liability to auto accidents, loss of self-reliance, perhaps diminished resistance to disease, danger of excesses, higher incidence of venereal disease and general disrespect for law and order. In answer to the popular notion that alcohol is a "stimulant," the principle that alcohol is actually a depressant was first advanced in 1883 by the noted German pharmacologist, Schmeideberg. The following quotation is from the American translation by Doctors R. N. Harger, H. R. Hulpieu and G. N. Thompson: "The subjective and objective states and manifestations, from which alcoholic drinks are considered stimulants, are usually attributed to the stimulating effect of the alcohol. One refers to the manifestations which we observe under these conditions, namely to certain exaltations of the psychic functions resulting in loud and profuse speech, and vivacious acts, also to accelerated pulse rate, engorgement and flushing of the body surface and the face, and a sensation of increased warmth. However, a closer consideration of these manifestations shows that they are the results of a beginning paralysis of certain parts of the brain!" Since this finding was first expressed in 1883, the idea that alcohol acts as a stimulant to the nervous system has been disproved in a host of pharmacological laboratories by countless scientists. This conclusion is now verified and accepted by all present-day pharmaceutical experts in the field of medicine and drugs. You said that there are a lot of other things that are harmful to humans too. Well, I never said that only these two things are forbidden. Nothing that is harmful to humans, is considered good in Islam. But some things have more harmful effects than others. Some are completely haram (forbidden) in Islam, because their effects are too damaging, but some are just considered bad, but it is not a sin to eat them. It all depends on the effects that the thing has. Nothing in the Quran has ever been proved wrong, and a lot has been proved right.
Rest assured, I will not debate with you from my religion's point of view. I will try to explain to you objectively why my religion says what it does. Regarding homosexuality, one thing I want to make clear is that homosexuality is not a biological condition, and that fact has been proved. The American Psychiatric Association reports "There are no replicated scientific studies supporting any specific biological etiology [cause or origin] for homosexuality." The APA further states "No specific psychosocial or family dynamic cause for homosexuality has been identified, including histories of childhood sexual abuse." All indications are that homosexuality is a choice. Making a choice is a decision in the mind that too often originates in the heart from feelings. However, laws and moral standards are not set in place based on feelings or emotions. Dr. John Money, leading sex researcher at Johns Hopkins University, reported: "No chromosomal differences have been found between homosexual subjects and heterosexual controls. [and later] On the basis of present knowledge, there is no basis on which to justify an hypothesis that homosexuals or bisexuals of any degree or type are chromosomally discrepant [different] from heterosexuals. He also stated: “The child’s psychosexual identity is not written, unlearned, in the genetic code, the hormonal system or the nervous system at birth.” In their 1970 report the Kinsey Institute stated that 84% of gays shifted or changed their sexual orientation at least once. 32% of the gays reported a third shift, and 13% of gays reported at least five changes. If sexual orientation is biologically fixed at birth as gays say, why do 84% of them change their sexual orientation at least once?
Once that is established, I would like to point out the problems that arise because of this unnatural "choice." In regards to homosexual couples and domestic violence, studies indicate that as a whole homosexu
[continued] In regards to homosexual couples and domestic violence, studies indicate that as a whole homosexual couples have higher rates of promiscuity than heterosexual couples. In addition, studies report that homosexual couples have significantly higher incidences of violent behavior which will be covered shortly. These studies are not surprising at all given what pathologists have stated regarding the commonness and brutality of homosexual murders. A recent study by the Canadian government regarding homosexual couples states that "violence was twice as common among homosexual couples compared with heterosexual couples". According the American College of Pediatricians who cite several studies violence among homosexual couples is two to three times more common than among married heterosexual couples. In addition, the American College of Pediatricians states the following: "Homosexual partnerships are significantly more prone to dissolution than heterosexual marriages with the average homosexual relationship lasting only two to three years." Another study indicated that 83% of homosexuals report they have been emotionally abused by homosexual partners. A study that compared domestic violence between lesbian couples and married women is even more pronounced in respect to the above statistics that suggest that homosexual couples are more violent than heterosexual couples. Here is a link which shows the ratio of violence between homosexuals and heterosexuals: http://www.conservapedia.com/images/8/8e/IS04C02_9
In regards to homosexuality and health, the homosexual population has a significantly higher incidences of a large number of diseases. One of the reasons for homosexual population having higher incidences of diseases is the significantly higher incidences of promiscuity in the homosexual population, as I said before. The original spread of AIDS is generally attributed to the promiscuity of homosexual men. Originally the syndrome was called the "gay disease" because the overwhelming majority of patients were homosexual men. Of newly diagnosed HIV infections in the United States during the year 2003, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that about 63% were among men who were infected through sexual contact with other men. As of 1998, 54% percent of all AIDS cases in the United States were homosexual men, and the CDC stated that nearly 90% of these men acquired HIV through sexual activity with other men. On March 15, 2004 Medscape published an article entitled New Look at "Gay Bowel Syndrome" in which they linked HIV infection with gay bowel syndrome. In addition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 1994 to 1997 the proportion of homosexual men stating they had anal sex increased from 57.6 percent to 61.2 percent. Although homosexual men may engage in sexual practices which may put them at risk, studies report that anal sex can be an important risk factor for the relay of many diseases.
Regarding homosexuality and MRSA, the February 19, 2008 Annals of Internal Medicine stated the following: “Data from this study suggest that multidrug-resistant USA300 has spread rapidly among men who have sex with men in San Francisco and Boston, and that having male–male sex seems to be a risk factor for multidrug-resistant USA300 infection independent of HIV infection.... As in the SFGH HIV clinic population, having male–male sex was a risk factor for multidrug-resistant USA300 infection among patients in the Fenway Community Health sample. All patients in this sample who had multidrug-resistant USA300 infection were men who had sex with men, and none of the more than 3000 men seen at this health center annually who did not have male–male sex had multidrug-resistant USA300 infection, suggesting the exclusive spread of the multidrug-resistant USA300 clone among men who have sex with men...."
In respect to homosexuality and syphilis, The news organization Cybercast News Service reported the following, "The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says homosexual men accounted for 65 percent of the nearly 12,000 cases of syphilis in the United States in 2007, making them the “primary driver” of increased syphilis rates overall."
In respect to homosexuality and gonorrhea, in 2006, the American Association of Family Physicians reported: "Men who have sex with men (MSM) have high rates of gonococcal infection. In San Francisco, more than one half of these infections occur in MSM, and previous cross-sectional studies have reported a prevalence of up to 15.3 percent in this group."
Furthermore, Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause proctitis and proctitis significantly increases the probability of HIV infection. In March of 2007, the Journal of Clinical Microbiology reported that there was an ongoing epidemic of lymphogranuloma venereum in men who have sex with men in Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America. In August of 2007, the Norweigan medical journal Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening stated that LGV has been a rare condition in the western world but since 2004 there have been frequent reports from larger cities in Europe and the United States and the outbreaks have been limited homosexual men. The abstract for the January of 2007 journal Clinical Infectious Diseases states that "We found a significant burden of this once-rare sexually transmitted infection among MSM in the United Kingdom. LGV may be contributing to the epidemic of human immunodeficiency virus infection by facilitating transmission." The reports of levels of proctitis in the homosexual men infected with lymphogranuloma venereum varied in the different outbreaks of lymphogranuloma venereum.
In respect to homosexuality and parasites, anal sex can be an important risk factor for intestinal parasitism. In 2006, the The Medical Journal of Australia reported the following: “High rates of intestinal parasitism are found in MSM throughout the world. Amoebiasis has become endemic in MSM in Japan and causes significant morbidity and mortality; complications such as colitis and liver abscesses occur more frequently in homosexual and bisexual men than in heterosexual men. Similar findings on amoebiasis are reported from Taiwan, with MSM at increased risk for invasive amoebiasis and intestinal colonisation with E. histolytica.
In respect to homosexuality and hepatitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) both Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B disproportionately affects men who have sex with men due to lack of adequate protection and irresponsibilty. In February of 2007 the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases reported the following in a article entitled Another Perfect Storm: Shigella, Men Who Have Sex with Men, and HIV: “In the mid-1970s, outbreaks of Shigella infection among adults in New York and San Francisco raised the possibility that Shigella species may be sexually transmitted, with most infections occurring in men who have sex with men. Since these early observations, Shigella infection appears to be more frequent among MSM than among other adult populations.."
In respect to homosexuality and illegal drug use, the Los Angeles Times reported in 2007 that the frequency of methamphetamine use is twenty times greater among homosexuals than in the general population.
In regards to lesbianism and obesity, in April of 2007, the American Journal of Public Health analyzed data from 2002 National Survey of Family Growth and the data suggested that American lesbian women were 2.69 times more likely to be overweight and 2.47 times more likely to be obese than all other female sexual orientation groups. The abstract for this study indicated that "lesbians are at greater risk for morbidity and mortality linked to overweight and obesity."
Also, studies have long indicated that homosexuals have a substantially greater risk of suffering from a psychiatric problems (suicide, depression, bulimia, antisocial personality disorder, and substance abuse). For example, a national survey of female homosexuals was published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology which found that 75 percent of the approximate 2,000 respondents had pursued psychological counseling of some type, many for treatment of long-term depression or sadness. In contrast to claims by gay rights activists blaming this heightened incidence of mental issues on discrimination, John R. Diggs, M.D. states the following regarding homosexuality and health: "An extensive study in the Netherlands undermines the assumption that homophobia is the cause of increased psychiatric illness among gays and lesbians. The Dutch have been considerably more accepting of same-sex relationships than other Western countries — in fact, same-sex couples now have the legal right to marry in the Netherlands. So a high rate of psychiatric disease associated with homosexual behavior in the Netherlands means that the psychiatric disease cannot so easily be attributed to social rejection and homophobia.” In addition, the late Harold I. Lief, who was a leading sex therapist who was an early defender of having medical schools put greater emphasis on sex education in training doctors, conducted a 1977 survey of members of the American Psychiatric Association and 73% of the psychiatrists responding said that they thought that homosexual men are less happy than others. Also, in regards to homosexuality and mental health, seventy percent of the psychiatrists surveyed stated they believed that the homosexuals' problems were due more to personal conflicts than to social stigmatization. The original spread of AIDS is generally attributed to the promiscuity of homosexual men. Originally the syndrome was called the "gay disease" because the overwhelming majority of patients were homosexual men. Of newly diagnosed HIV infections in the United States during the year 2003, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that about 63% were among men who were infected through sexual contact with other men. As of 1998, 54% percent of all AIDS cases in the United States were homosexual men, and the CDC stated that nearly ninety percent of these men acquired HIV through sexual activity with other men. On March 15, 2004 Medscape published an article entitled New Look at "Gay Bowel Syndrome" in which they linked HIV infection with gay bowel syndrome.
There are also higher rates of child molestation. Nearly 1/3 of the child abuse cases are homosexual in nature, and homosexuals are only 3% of the population. Daughters of lesbian "parents" are more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior and experience the consequences of that behavior. In areas in which homosexual marriage has become accepted (The Netherlands and areas of Scandinavia, for example), the fundamental building block of society--the family--has fallen apart. In some of these areas as many as 80% of the children are born outside of a family. Children of homosexual "parents" do the worst in 9 of 13 acedemic categories when compared with both married heterosexual couples and cohabitating couples. Homosexuality is harmful not only for the individual, but also for the society. The basis of religion is the welfare of the society. Because of that, God has forbidden us things which pose a threat to the individual as well as the society. There are various other reasons as well why homosexuality is forbidden. I hope these were enough though. If it had been biological, and not a matter of choice, then we would had had a debate. But since it is a matter of choice, then God did not allow us to choose something so damaging and harmful, not only to ourselves, but to our society. Believe me, if the Laws that the Creator has told us are followed, we would save ourselves from a lot of problems, as individuals and as societies.
You've not explained why homosexuality itself is wrong. There's violence among football fans but that doesn't make it wrong to be a football fan. There are many acts of terrorism conducted by Muslims, does tht make it wrong? (I'm just using your method of reasoning, you tell me)
I'm gonna ignore your pork and alcohol bit, you never answered the problem. 'nothing in the Quran has ever been proven wrong'. That is pure ignorance. I'm finding it difficult to step away from this because I feel so compelled to explain to you why you're reasoning is so awfully flawed but it is apparent that you aren't listening and that you aren't going to listen any time soon.
Good effort but this has become a joke.
Ok. You're being illogical now. I've proved to you why and how homosexuality is disastrous for the society as well as for the individual. If you think football has the same effect or is equally harmful for the society then prove it to me through statistics and examples, to substantiate your argument. You cant just throw a statement in the air. Tell me how it is effecting the society, the majority of its followers, and the reasons it should not be promoted, and how it leads to problems. Then we could have a debate on why football isn't prohibited and homosexuality is. As I said before, there are things that have a long term disastrous effect, and then there are things that are not damaging to that extend. The basis of religion is the welfare of the society. Regarding terrorism, the Quran forbids killing. It says in the Quran that killing one person is tentamount to killing the entire humanity, and saving the life of one person is like saving the entire humanity. These terrorists have no religion. If they were Muslims, they would not be doing what they are doing. Homosexuality, from its core, leads to problems. Football and Islam, do not from their core, lead to problems. Well, Islam doesn't at least. Football is a game. Its possible that some problems could occur because of it. But regarding Islam, it might be misunderstood, but here the problem lies with the individual, not the phenomena. In homosexuality, the problem occurs BECAUSE of the phenomena. That is the difference.
If there are any more problems, you're welcome to discuss.
Just reading over all this information and comments here. You have touched a well thought of subject. I don't think we will really know the truth until we die. Thanks for writing this.
Sandyspider, thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, the truth will reveal itself upon everyone after death. But for those who care to search for it while alive, it has already revealed itself :)
what a wonderfull research...i think thats scientist should turn to The Holy Book and make it their reference Book cause for sure it contains all knowledge...for both the seen and the unseen..May Allah restore you. Amin!
Thank you for stopping by and commenting majda :)
Isaiah 40:22
It is He [YHWH] who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain …
Isaiah 42:5
Thus say YHWH God, Who created the heavens and stretched them out …
Yes, the Holy Bible also contains the mysteries of creation given to man long before science formed its theories based on empirical evidence.
G-d told us through the Prophet Isaiah that the Earth is round nearly 2,200 years before Christopher Columbus. And He revealed that He stretches out the heavens, long before science discovered the universe is expanding.
By your own omission -- that if there are any scriptures in the Holy Bible that have revelations equal to your Prophet Muhammad's, that you would wish someone would share them with you -- you indicate that you have not studied the Holy Scriptures in the Bible.
I shall not attempt to list all the revelations written in the Holy Scriptures of the Bible. I would, however, ask you to do as you ask others to do. Your site is well written as you share your beliefs and it is meant to be a catalyst to draw others to the Quran to study, with an open mind and heart, what your Prophet has written down. I hope you intend to do the same and read what our prophets, especially Yeshua, have written down and to study with an open heart and mind the wisdom written within them.
I tried reading some of the comments your hub has aroused. This scripture comes to my mind, they are the words of G-d:
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares YHWH. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Who can know the mind of G-d? Who can presume to speak for Him? True prophets do not speak for G-d; they provide Him an avenue to speak through them.
G-d does not need to "prove" Himself to any man.
He gives us free will to believe or not.
But He also outlines the consequences of our choices.
We all have eyes to see. The miracle of life on this beautiful planet, as "science" peers to the farthest reaches of the universe that the telescopic "eyes" can "see" and find no other planet as ours, no other life – or as medical science cannot understand how it is our brains are able to "think" -- all the miracles of life that fill this world should be evidence enough to "believe" in G-d.
All things require belief, in some form.
I do not need to understand St. Isaac Newton's universal law of gravity; it is enough that I walk around and do not float off into space.
I do not be "believe" the theory of Evolution.
Mankind did not "evolve" from monkeys; man is created by God in His image.
I do not believe in "black holes" or any of the other mathematical "theories" formulated by theoretical physicists like Dr. Stephen Hawkins. Imaginations of the mind, with no way of proving or disproving them.
The people who "believe" in their theories, do just that -- they exercise "belief." They chose to accept these theories as truth -- until a new theory comes along and replaces the old.
I choose to accept as truth that there is a G-d who created the heavens and Earth. I choose to believe He is good, that He cares about us and cares about how we treat one another. He would have us live in peace together, work for the good of one another, and please not to pollute/corrupt the beautiful world He has given us to live in.
And I believe in this wise counsel given by G-d: Judge only yourself. He did not give us the authority to judge anyone but ourselves, for I and I alone am responsible for my deeds and actions. If I cannot straiten my own walk before the Lord, who am I to correct the ways of another.
I know a Christian whose favorite saying is, I don't judge others., I am a "fruit inspector." But then I hear that person all the time criticize and condemn everybody's fruit. What I hear is a lot of "judging" going on.
What differentiates a fruit inspector from a "judge"? It would seem to be a very fine line, crossed over by many a "fruit inspector".
What happened in the past should stay in the past. Today's Christians, Jews and Muslims should not judged by ancient history. No religion is exempt from zealots who use their faith to do harm. Each person should be held accountable for his own deeds, not those of his forefathers. Nor should any religion be branded by the fanaticisms of fringe groups with that faith.
We shall all stand one day before G-d and give an account for our owns deeds.
Let us let each person work out their own salvation with fear and trembling before the Almighty. Let us not cause another to stumble. Lend a helping hand a long the way. Forgive and love one another. What a much better world this would be to live.
Yeshua haMashiach is my Teacher and Savior.
He says, Love G-d with all your heart, soul and mind and your neighbor as yourself.
From what Nia writes, I believe Muhammad would agree.
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fatfist Level 3 Commenter 2 years ago
Science is not in the business of proving anything - especially existence. Specifically, science is not concerned about proving that god does or does not exist, nor showing any evidence for or against god.
Science is only in the business of "studying" that which exists, according to the scientific method. If it exists, science will and does study it. Then it will develop a hypothesis and a theory to "explain" the "hows" of that which exists - not "whether" it exists or not, as that has already been established. That is all that science does.
If god exists and is able to be studied, then yes, science will study it. Until then, please stop mis-representing and mis-quoting science as it has nothing to do with any gods.